How to create sustainable wellbeing goals for the New Year

Lots of people start the New Year with resolutions or goals that they want to achieve for the year ahead. Whether that is saving money, losing weight, learning a new skill or hobby, there’s lots that options that people look at for self-improvement.

Setting resolutions can be a good idea for some, but not all. According to a study, people usually break these resolutions with within the first 3 weeks. The reason why these goals are broken is people either have unrealistic expectations or the timeline is unachievable. That doesn’t mean sticking to New Year’s resolutions is impossible though, we’ll show you how to create sustainable New Year’s goals to increase your chances of successfully sticking to them.

Why should you make New Year goals?

Embarking on a journey of self-improvement doesn’t need to be a daunting task and by setting New Year’s wellbeing resolutions, will allow you to prioritise your mental, emotional and physical health. By creating realistic and achievable goals will pave the way for long-lasting positive change. Focusing on self-care such as mindfulness techniques, healthy habits and improvements, will improve your overall wellbeing.

The new year is a great time to make a conscious decision to prioritise your wellness, so you can cultivate a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle that will empower you to thrive in the new year and beyond.

Setting New Year goals is not just a trendy practice or playing lip-service, but it is a powerful way to kickstart your journey towards sustainable wellbeing. By establishing clear objectives for the year ahead, you can create a roadmap that guides you towards a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. When it comes to setting wellbeing goals, it is crucial to focus on sustainable changes that promote long-term health and happiness.

Whether it's committing to regular exercise, prioritising self-care, or promoting positive relationships, setting achievable goals can lead to lasting improvements in your overall wellbeing.

What is goal setting?

Goal setting is a powerful tool when creating sustainable wellbeing goals for the new year. It involves identifying specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives that contribute to your overall wellness. By setting clear intentions and breaking down your goals into actionable steps, you can establish a roadmap for success. Whether it's focusing on physical health, mental wellbeing, or personal growth, setting realistic and meaningful goals can help you stay motivated and track your progress towards a healthier and happier you in the upcoming year.

How to pick a sustainable New Year’s goal

When selecting a goal for the new year, it is essential to prioritise sustainable wellbeing.

1. Make your goals align with you

Choose a goal that aligns with your values and brings long-term benefits to your physical, mental, and emotional health. When your values and goals are aligned, you’re more likely to achieve them. For example, if you care about the environment, you may want a goal that centres around using more eco-friendly products. And because you already care for the environment, you’re more likely to keep yourself accountable.

2. Integrate goals into your lifestyle

Consider setting realistic and achievable objectives that can be integrated into your daily routine. Focus on creating a balanced approach that promotes overall wellbeing and personal growth. By selecting goals that nurture your mind, body, and spirit, you can pave the way for a fulfilling and sustainable journey towards improved health and happiness in the new year.

3. Start small

Small goals don’t mean they’re impactful. In fact, lots of smaller goals can be far easier to achieve than fewer big goals – especially since the latter can easily make us put a lot of pressure on ourselves.

For example, you may have a goal to switch careers. If you’re lacking in a skill, make a ‘smaller goal’ to retrain in the areas you’re lacking. This in turn contributes to your wider goal.

4. Find an accountability partner

Two heads are better than one. Whether it’s a trusted friend of family member, having someone keep you accountable for achieving your goals can be incredibly powerful – especially if they have goals of their own. Make it a point to regularly check-in. This can be particularly helpful when one or either of you are losing motivation.

5. Stack your goals with something you enjoy

Does working towards a goal through an enjoyable outlet sound appealing? It should! Let’s say your goal is to get fitter or achieve a particular personal best at the gym, why not pair the activity with a podcast or playlist that you love? By stacking your goal with something you enjoy doing, you’re more likely to associate working on your goals with something more pleasurable.

6. Make your goals SMART

When it comes to creating sustainable wellbeing goals for the new year, making SMART goals is paramount. By setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives, individuals can effectively outline their aspirations and track their progress towards improved overall wellness. Whether aiming to enhance physical fitness, mental health, or dietary habits, employing the SMART criteria ensures that goals are realistic and attainable. This approach fosters accountability and motivation, leading to long-lasting positive changes that contribute to a happier and healthier lifestyle in the year ahead.

What are SMART goals?

SMART goals are a powerful tool when creating sustainable wellbeing goals for the new year. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting goals that are clear, quantifiable, realistic, aligned with your values, and have a deadline, you increase your chances of success. When it comes to your wellbeing, having SMART goals can help you stay focused, motivated, and on track towards achieving a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. Remember, setting SMART goals is the first step towards making positive and lasting changes in your overall wellbeing.

How to make SMART goals

When setting sustainable wellbeing goals for the new year, it is crucial to make them SMART:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Relevant

• and Time-bound

Start by clearly defining what you want to achieve in terms of your mental, physical, and emotional health. Ensure your goals are measurable so you can track your progress. You could use a physical diary, your notes app or calendar to mark goals to achieve by particular points in the year. The most important thing is to make sure they are realistic and relevant to your overall wellbeing. Set a timeline to keep yourself accountable, make sure you are realistic in the timeframes you’re setting yourself. By making SMART goals, you are more likely to create sustainable habits that contribute to your long-term health and happiness.

How to stay motivated

Staying motivated to achieve your wellbeing goals for the new year requires a strategic approach. Start by setting out your goals, then set out realistic timescales. Break down your goals into smaller milestones to track your progress and celebrate your achievements along the way.

An example would be to make 1 meal a week without meat, or start journalling for your mental health once a day.

Surround yourself with a supportive community of family, friends, work colleagues or accountability partner to keep you motivated and on track. Remember to practice self-care, prioritise rest, and be kind to yourself if you face setbacks. Setbacks will happen, don’t beat yourself up, it was just one day, you can start again. Stay focused on your vision of sustainable wellbeing, and let that drive your motivation throughout the year.

Sustainable wellbeing goal ideas 

If you’re looking for some ideas of some sustainable wellbeing goals, you could choose.

• Learning mindfulness

• Eating healthier

• Getting enough sleep

• Drinking more water

• Giving up smoking/drinking

• Learning to meditating

• Daily journalling

• Learning yoga

• Starting therapy

• Volunteering for a cause you care about

How an Employee Assistance Programme can support you in achieving New Year’s goals

Motivation is fleeting, life and work can get stressful…the list is endless. It can make goals slip by the wayside, and we may begin to feel like we can’t achieve the things we set out to. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can be an incredibly valuable tool. With access to solution-focused brief therapy through our qualified counsellors, as well as Life and Leadership coaching, we can help you get back on track. Available 24/7, 365 days a year – we know the going gets tough, so we’re contactable whenever you need us to support you in achieving your goals and maintaining your wellbeing.

How Wisdom can support your New Year’s goals

As part of our EAP, users get access to Wisdom. The Wisdom app is a valuable addition to supporting you with sustainable New Year’s goals, particularly if you are on a wellness journey. The Wisdom app has resources that will help you achieve your wellbeing goals from giving up smoking, healthy recipes to help you eat healthier and even an activity tracker to track your steps. Also available in the Wisdom app is access to live chat and video calls, so you can start therapy and get the support you need.

You can download the Wisdom app from the App Store and Google Play.

Conclusion

When creating your sustainable wellbeing goals for the new year, it’s important to ensure your goals align with where you’re at and where you want to be within an achievable and realistic timeframe. It’s also a good idea to account for obstacles along the way. Even if life events or other situations come about unexpectedly, you can always revisit your goals and get back on track when you’re able to.