New Year, Improved Me: Setting SMART Goals

-
New year, improved me" is about using the fresh start of January to set goals for personal growth, focusing on small, specific and kind changes. Some of these may be exercising more, learning a new skill, decluttering, or improving health, rather than overwhelming resolutions, to foster lasting positive changes in your career, well-being, and relationships. Key is to plan realistically, reflect on the past year's lessons, and treat improvement as an ongoing journey, not just a one-time event. 
Common Areas for Improvement
  • Health & Wellness: Exercise (e.g., 15 mins daily), healthier eating, getting closer to nature, improving sleep.
  • Career & Skills: Update resume/LinkedIn, network, learn a new skill (coding, design), take a course, find a mentor.
  • Mindset & Habits: Practice gratitude, declutter, try new experiences, be kind to yourself and others, plan enjoyable activities.
  • Relationships: Spend quality time with loved ones, give back to the community. 
Tips for Success
  • Start Small & Be Specific: Instead of "exercise more," try "walk 15 minutes daily".
  • Be Flexible & Kind: Life happens; allow for setbacks and practice self-compassion.
  • Focus on "Better," Not "New": Aim to be the "best version" of yourself, recognizing continuous growth.
  • Plan Action Steps: Don't just have goals; figure out how to apply them immediately to build momentum.
  • Reflect & Appreciate: Acknowledge past achievements and lessons learned. 
Shifting the Mindset
The idea of a "new me" can create pressure. Shifting to "better me" or focusing on specific growth areas makes improvement feel more achievable and less judgmental, acknowledging that you're always evolving. 

Tools to use:

S.M.A.R.T Goals

Specific 
Measurable 
Achievable 
Realistic 
Timer-Bound 

You may find it useful to write these out for each individual goal you wish to set and revisit these to ensure your staying on track or if changes are needing to be changed.

BACP

BACP