With the arrival of a new year, it is common to review everything accomplished in the previous year—to look back and see what was achieved, what was missing to make the year perfect, and what were the best and worst moments. We feel the need to check if we are making progress, if we are achieving what we set out to do, and above all, to set new goals to make the coming year unforgettable.

Unfortunately, many New Year’s resolutions get lost in the daily rush, due to lack of time or poor planning. Setting goals is good and can make us feel good for a moment—but achieving them is essential to make that feeling last. And to achieve them, first you need to think them through carefully, and second, commit to them (and to yourself).

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How to Plan Goals

The first step is planning the goals you want to set. Before that, you need to choose your goals. This is not easy because by the end of the year, you need to be able to confirm whether they were achieved. If choosing the goal does not require reflection, it probably isn’t worth it: it might be too easy, the same ones you never fulfill, or impossible.

When choosing goals, consider three things:

1. Previous stage – What have you achieved, which goals were missed, what difficulties did you encounter, what were you able to overcome?
2. Needs – What do you want in each area of your life, what do you enjoy, what makes you happy, what do you need? Give a “why” to your “what.”
3. Realistic possibilities – Maybe you want to become a millionaire overnight, but a goal should be SMART—and above all, realistic.

Once the goals are chosen, it’s time to plan. There are many ways to plan goals, but these key points from Miguel Guzmán can be incorporated into any method and will help you plan effectively:

• State the goal positively – Focus on the result, not the problem or situation to be changed. Instead of thinking “stop being lazy,” think “exercise daily.”
• Control the goal – Avoid frustration from pursuing a goal unrelated to your actions. You cannot set a goal like “get a girlfriend,” but you can create a schedule of activities where you can meet people.
• Adjust the goal – Over time, actions can be distorted. Instead of “go to the gym,” set “go to the gym three times a week.”
• Set an appropriate goal size – Don’t overreach. If you’ve never run before, a marathon might be too much; try running 10 kilometers per week instead.
• Make it motivating – The goal should be desirable and fair: challenging enough to push you, but achievable without neglecting other important aspects of life.
• Consider available resources – Many goals require time, money, energy, or the help of others. If these are unavailable, adjust the goal.
• Consider your current situation – If you quit smoking, for example, consider replacing the relaxation or socializing it provided. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall back into old habits.
• Think about life impact – Understand how planning and achieving the goal will affect your life. This helps you adjust and preserve what you’ve already achieved.
• Include review – Regularly check your progress, feelings about the goals, and whether strategy adjustments are needed. Don’t forget to measure and self-criticize.

Planning and achieving goals applies not only personally but also in business.

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Keys to Achieving Goals

Once you’ve selected your goals and planned them, you’ve already covered much of the path. Some key principles will help ensure your goals don’t slip away:

1. Prioritize – Time is finite. If you set too many goals along with your usual activities, you’ll be stuck. In selecting, planning, and acting, discard what is less important to focus on what matters—without neglecting health, rest, or family.
2. Be flexible – Life brings setbacks. Plan for downtime and rest, and consider levels of completion in order of priority.
3. Break goals into smaller milestones – Large goals over 12 months can feel overwhelming. Start with smaller, achievable steps using the same logic as your main goal. Completing smaller goals makes reaching the ultimate goal manageable.
4. Write them down – Recording goals, plans, calendars, and tasks not only helps solidify them but also allows you to review and avoid losing track.

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Are your new year goals ready? Go for them!