Did You Reach Your 2020 Goals? Here's How To Prep For The New Year

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on what you accomplished and what you want to change in the new year. With 2020 receding into the distance, we can put our focus on 2021. What do you want to tackle this year and how can you prep yourself for it?

Let’s talk about three ways you can set yourself up for success in 2021.

Multiple things were difficult about 2020. For many of us, adaptation and perseverance came to the forefront as vital skills. Take some time to reflect and focus on what you learned last year. Did you experience a time of personal growth? Were there challenges unique to your situation that you rose to meet?

Think about what you took on, what you completed and what you could have improved on. Create a list of your favorite moments and the hardest moments, whether from your career or in your personal life. When reflecting, keep in mind that improvement starts with awareness of where you came up short, and gratitude for the good things can help keep you motivated.

There’s something so satisfying about crossing something off a list. Think about what small goals you want to achieve in 2021. Having a hard time coming up with something small? Take a bigger goal and break it down into steps.

For instance, maybe a goal of yours is to land a new job. Breaking down that goal could look like this:

1. Revise your resume
2. Take a new headshot
3. Grow your profile on LinkedIn
4. Network with people at companies you’re interested in
5. Apply for openings you want
6. Land an interview
7. Accept an offer

Breaking down large, intimidating goals into smaller pieces makes them feel much more attainable.

Goals that really challenge your abilities, or stretch goals, are essential for growth. Set these goals knowing you may not fully complete them, but recognize any progress made on them is substantial.

Stretch goals don’t just have to mean hitting high marks. They can be accomplishments that put you out of your comfort zone. For example, if you hate public speaking, a stretch goal could be signing up to deliver a large presentation.

The key with stretch goals is setting them just at the end of your reach. They’re large enough to be motivating, but not so big that they feel unattainable or intimidating.

By reflecting on 2020 and setting new goals for growth, you can prepare yourself to have a stellar 2021. If anything, this year has taught us not to take anything for granted and to pivot when unforeseen problems pop up.

No one knows what lies ahead, but we know where we’ve been. With a little planning, we can stay motivated and take on projects and problems as they come.