Happy New Year – well almost! Don’t you just love that fresh start feeling that comes with a brand new year? I know that fresh starts can get a bad rap, but personally I love using the energy that comes with a shiny brand new year to get super focused on what I’d like to achieve. You may be someone who prefers to wing it which is totally fine, or maybe like me you love having set out goals, either way I think these tips for rocking your 2017 goals (even if you don’t set formal goals!) will help.

Try using the word intention instead of goal

I don’t actually like using the word goal as much as I like using the word intention. Intention feels like a much more flexible way to work with goals. I like saying, ‘I intend to…’ because I find that has a completely different energy to ‘my goal is…’ Intentions put you into the picture if that makes sense!

Break them down into actions

It’s so important to break down those big intentions or goals into the little actions that will actually take you there if you want to meet those 2017 goals. Action is the difference between meeting your intention or achieving your goal and forgetting about it! If your intention is to become fitter then your actions might be to go to the gym 3 times a week and do yoga once a week. If you’re more of a wing it type, starting with the actions that feel good to you is a great place to start.

Create habits based on those actions – and make them stick

Utilising the power of  habits is a sure fire way to get those actions to happen, which in turn means you meet that goal! I love using a habit tracker grid like the one in this post as a simple but powerful way to form new habits and keep on top of them. 

Look back to where you’ve gone wrong in the past

Are you setting yourself the same goal or intention you did last year and the year before that? If so why didn’t you achieve it first time round? Looking back and reviewing where things might have gone wrong and what you could have done differently will help you be successful this time.

Build in a time to reflect and review

Without regular reflection and review of your goals they are so much more likely to be forgotten about and not achieved. Building in a way to review your 2017 goals, and change course if needed, is such a helpful way to make sure they get done. In The Balance Club we have a monthly reflection and review sheet that we all do together to help us make adjustments in our lives to create more balance and achieve our intentions.

Put them where you can see them

Intentions can be easily forgotten if you can’t see them so write them down and put them somewhere you can see them everyday. You can write a list on your phone note function, frame them and place them on your bedside table or pin up beside your desk.

Create a vision board

I’m a very visual person so I love creating a vision board for the year. There’s several ways you can do this, from using magazine cuttings and pasting them on to a board, creating an image in photoshop or a similar programme or my favourite, a secret Pinterest Board. I love going back to my board and feeling inspired for the year ahead.

Feel into them

Ultimately, whenever we set a goal or intention there’s going to be a feeling that we want to feel behind it. I’m a huge fan of Danielle LaPorte’s Desire Map where she guides you to create Core Desired Feelings and then set intentions that will help to generate those feelings. Check out her Desire Map for the New Year if that sounds good to you.

On another level, just visualising and feeling how you’ll feel when you’ve achieved your goals or intentions are a great way to stir up some cosmic energy in your favour. I’m really into The Law of Attraction, which is very woo woo, but stay with me, this lovely post from Jessica Dimas introduces it in a really useful way.

Use a proper planner

Using an already structured planner can be so helpful in making sure goals and intentions are set in the right way and are also reviewed. I love Leonie Dawson’s Shining Year Planners and the Desire Map planner, but many different ones exist so it’s totally worth doing so research into which one is right for you.

Don’t forget self care

I’m such a huge advocate of self care, it really is the foundation for a healthy happy life. Getting that right is key to being the best version of you – someone who has the energy and focus to reach their dreams. If you’d like to get 2017 kicked off with self care and balance front and centre you’re going to love my Wholeheartedly Healthy January Challenge. It’s 7 days of healthy habits, self care and self love starting on 9th January. Best of all it’s totally free! Just sign up below to join us:

Join the Wholeheartedly Healthy January Challenge!

For more on self care check out this post and free work book!

What are your intentions or goals for 2017?