New Year’s is goal-setting season. If you’re like us here at twenty, then you’re taking advantage of the turn of the year to set new goals or reinvigorate old ones. And if you’re like us, you’re probably also already realizing that it’s all too easy for goals to fall by the wayside–even just a few weeks into the year. 

Don’t worry, we’re not alone. Nearly 90% of people who set New Year’s resolutions fail to stick to their plan after just a few months.

Why aren’t we more successful when it comes to achieving our goals? Perhaps we’re too ambitious. Not to mention, making a change in lifestyle or habit is hard. 

But there is still hope! We sat down with Lucy Strand, a twenty mentor (and an accomplished goal achiever), to get her advice on how to set ambitious goals and achieve them. She shares tips for breaking down your goals into steps that keep you moving toward progress, even when the going gets tough. Here’s what she had to say.

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1. Focus on three main goals

Too many goals can zap your motivation. Don’t overload yourself. Rather than setting lots of goals in the hopes that you achieve some of them, Lucy recommends setting a few, focused goals so you can stay zeroed in on what you’re hoping to achieve in 2024.

One way to help do this is to separate your goals into categories. Think career, love, friendship, health, finances, or personal development. Decide which broad areas of your life you want to focus on and then set goals within those categories.

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2. Connect to the "why" 

One of the major reasons we fail to achieve our goals is that we fail to connect to our why.

Say you want to eat a healthier diet. What’s your why? Do you want to feel more energized and healthy throughout the day? Do you have weight gain or loss goals? Or is it something else?

You might even challenge yourself to dig a layer deeper. What’s the why behind your why? You want to eat a healthier diet. Why? So you can feel more energized throughout the day. Why? So you can feel more motivated at your job and in your relationships. 

Connecting to the deeper purpose of your goals and your true intentions behind those goals can help you stay motivated and ensure that your goals come from your heart rather than your ego. Do some reflection and write down why it is that you want to achieve a certain goal. Try playing the why game and digging for the why behind your why. 

The closer you can connect to your intentions and purpose, the more you’ll be able to connect with your motivation, too.

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3. Use a goal-setting framework 

There are many popular frameworks that both businesses and individuals use to set goals. Perhaps you’ve even used a few of them before. We recommend finding a framework that makes sense to you. 

One framework that we’ve used time and time again is the SMART framework because it helps you not only break down your goal into actionable and measurable steps, but it also helps you clarify and rightsize your goals too. The SMART acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. 

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Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?

Make sure your goal is clearly articulated. Rather than setting a general goal like “working out more,” try to be specific: “go to the gym 4 times per week.”

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Measurable: How will you measure progress?

To track progress, you need to set a measurable goal. Going to the gym 4 times per week is a great example as it something you can easily keep track of every week.

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Attainable: What is realistic?

Rightsize your goal so that it is realistic and achievable. This is not to say don’t be ambitious. But make sure to gut-check your target goal with what’s realistic. Maybe the gym is far from your home and requires a long car ride. Rather than setting a goal of going to the gym 4 times per week, you could adjust it to exercise 4 times a week, twice in the gym and twice at home or outside.

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Relevant: Why does this goal matter to you?

Relevance ties back to your ‘why’--your purpose behind your goals. Make sure your goal is connected to your intentions and purpose. How does your goal fit into the larger question of your long-term ambitions?

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Time-Bound: When will you achieve your goal?

Create a timeline for your goal. This will help keep your vision of completing your goal in sight. It will also help you keep your goal realistic. Instead of setting a goal of exercising 4 times a week indefinitely, try setting a goal of exercising 4 times a week for the next 2 months. Once you complete the two months, you can adjust as you see fit.

4. Balance optimism with realism 

No dream is too big. Even the most ambitious goals are worth exploring if they’re important to you and connected to your sense of purpose.

That being said, it’s important to be realistic and honest about what you can feasibly achieve. 

One great way to gut-check how realistic your goals are is to share them with a peer, friend, or coworker. Bringing in another perspective, especially from someone who knows you, can help you more clearly see how realistic it might be to accomplish your goal.

Another great tip is to think through the logistics of what needs to be true for you to achieve your goal. To return to the going to the gym example, you could ask yourself: “How easy is it for me to access the gym?”; “How does my work schedule accommodate going to the gym more frequently?”; “How much time do I have to dedicate to spending time in the gym?”

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5. Focus on moments that matter

Think through the moments where you might be more likely to achieve or slip up on your goal. For example, if your goal is diet-related, then grocery shopping or cooking might be an important moment to be reminded of your goal. If you can figure out what moments are particularly important for achieving your goal, you can more easily set yourself up for success. Figuring out these moments can also help you ritualize routines or habits to achieve your goals. For example, if your goal is to sleep more, maybe try drinking a cup of tea at the same time every night to signify a transition.

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6. Set reminders and use visual aids

Finally, find ways to remind yourself of your goals and intentions throughout the day. This can be a post-it on your computer, a phrase on your phone screensaver, magnets on your fridge, or a daily text reminder from a friend. 

If you’re using physical cues, think about which locations might be the most helpful to remind you of your goal. For example, if you’re trying to cut down on screen time, then set a reminder via your phone screen saver that reminds you to be mindful of your phone usage. 

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7. Establish external accountability

Share your goals with trusted friends or mentors–they can be your biggest supporters! Schedule regular check-ins so you can chart your progress or talk through obstacles that are getting in your way. It’s invaluable to have a thought partner for talking through barriers to success. 

Who knows, maybe your friend will join you on your journey, and you can keep each other accountable and motivated. 

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8. Connect with folks who have successfully achieved the same outcomes 

Establishing relationships with mentors and understanding their path to success allows your mind to witness what is possible. Look for inspiration in people who have walked the path before you and see what lessons you might learn from their journeys. Don’t forget to be open though–you might have a different path to achieving the same goal. 

Following through on your New Year’s resolutions is no small feat. Even the smallest goals can present challenges and barriers to achieving them. That being said, setting actionable, SMART goals and connecting to the why behind those goals can help set you on a path toward success.

Want to connect with someone who can support you as you set your goals and work to achieve them? That’s what our mentors are here for! twenty helps young adults navigate their twenties, personally and professionally. We connect you with highly-vetted mentors and a thoughtful community to help you carve your unique path.