Measuring Progress and Keeping to Your 2021 Goals

With January well under way, it’s important to take the time to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves in the glamour and promise of a brand new year. 2021 rings with potential, and three weeks into January, we can evaluate how well we’ve upheld our promises to ourselves, and pivot if needed.

Whether you’ve been diligent in your goals or entirely fallen off with them, it’s never too late to recommit or find new tactics to stay true to your New Year's Resolution. Goal setting, a skill that can equip and empower you to become the version of yourself, provides parameters to measure progress and encourage rather than deter you! Having goals are great, but without a plan on how to achieve them, they can easily remain dreams rather than reality.

Goals are personal to each individual, and so is progress. Don’t let your goals die on the hill of comparison. Everyone faces different sets of setbacks and advantages, and it’s unfair to compare your journey to others. If you’re a competitive person, and get a lot of motivation from competition, compete against yourself! Ask yourself: “how can I be better than last week? Than yesterday?” Working within the framework of wanting to better yourself is a healthy way to channel competitive energy.

Regardless of how you source motivation, every goal can benefit from following a structure that spurs you closer to said goal. When it comes to goals, the more specific, the better!

It’s easier to achieve goals if you make them specific. For example, can you measure the goal? Reducing your running time is great, but setting a goal of shaving off a minute from your running time is a great way to specify and measure your goal in order to reach your goal!

“My personal new year’s resolution is to write down five good things that happened to me that day before bed,” Ashley Connell, CEO and Founder of Prowess Project said. “The goal is 5, but I try to get 6 so I’m overachieving.”

By giving herself a numerical goal, Ashley can effectively measure how well she fulfills her goal. You can set your specific goals for daily, weekly, monthly timeframes, depending on what works best for you.

1. Commitment

Commitment is key. With commitment comes schedule. If you dedicate time in your routine to your goal, whether that’s waking up early to run or 20 minutes a day practicing a new language, incorporating your goal into your lifestyle will allow you to see them to completion. It’s easy to dismiss something when you say you don’t have time for it, but without making time for your goals, they are much more likely to remain dreams than reality.

“ ‘I don’t have time’ isn’t an acceptable answer,” Ashley said. “If you really wanted it, you’d make the time.”

3. Consistency

Consistency is important, but don’t become discouraged if you miss a day. Missing one day will not determine whether you accomplish your dream or not, but consistently ignoring your goal will not bring you any closer to it.

“I stay on track with my goals through weekly check-ins,” Ashley said.

Once you achieve your smaller goals, celebrate your achievement! Acknowledge the progress made and then make a plan to tackle the next smaller goal. Before you know it your big-picture goal will be a reality.

The Prowess Project CEO said that a great way she stays consistent is by telling people about her goal. “The more I tell folks about my goal, not only am I motivated to make it happen, but others tend to offer advice, connections, and encouragement to get it done as well.”

4. Reward System

Resolutions don’t have to feel like a chore. A healthy reward system can prove effective to the longevity of your goal! Don’t punish yourself for missing a day or not meeting a deadline. Rather, reward your progress. Approach your goals with a positive attitude and mindset, and be kind to yourself in your journey.

“I reward myself with chocolate,” Ashley said of when she meets her goals. When things don’t go as planned, Ashley suggests taking the time to reflect.

“Try to figure it out,” she advised. “It’s critical to be honest with yourself.”

Don’t abandon your resolutions in the tail end of January! Stay committed, or recommit yourself. It’s never too late to set your dream into action, and reward yourself with some chocolate along the way!