Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros about organizing your goals.

As the year is coming to an end, thoughts turn to 2019 and what you can accomplish in the new year. Setting goals can be a challenge, but there are some ways to make it easier.

The first step is deciding what goals you want to achieve in the coming year before you figure out how to achieve them.

People who write down their goals are much more likely to make them happen. There are several ways to do that.

Make a list of the goals you want to achieve in the year, month-by-month or even week by week. You can break down the big goals into components that you need to accomplish in order to reach that goal. If your goal is to have your home organized, you can break it down into which room is organized first and in what order you organize the other rooms.

Creating a vision board with your goals can help too. A vision board not only shows your goals, but also the emotions you want to feel. Cut out pictures that represent your goals like a clean kitchen and words like “meditate” from magazines and glue them down on poster board in a collage format. You can hand write things too. It doesn’t have to come from a magazine.

When you finish the vision board, put it in a place where you will see it on a daily basis like near the makeup mirror or by the kitchen table. The more you see your goals, the more they are on your mind. You become compelled to work on achieving them.

Make your goals SMART:

Specific – When you write down your goals, make them specific rather than broad. Not “I want to make more money” but a specific amount.
Measurable – Have you ever seen a non-profit use the image of a thermometer where the goal is at the top and they color it in as they raise money? That is one way of showing how a goal is being measured. Put real numbers in your goals so you have something to reach.
Attainable – Don’t think so big that you can never achieve it. Make each goal within your reach.
Realistic – Make your goal within the availability of your resources, knowledge and time.
Time-based– Give yourself a reasonable deadline for each goal.

Review your goals on a regular basis either week by week or month by month. Check your progress. If you don’t review them, they’ll be harder to reach. If you need help, think of a friend that can be your accountability partner. You both set goals and set a time each week to check in with each other to see how things are going.

By writing down goals, creating a vision board and regular reviews, you are sure to make great strides in 2019!