Happy Second New Year!!! That’s right, everyone. September is upon us and that means more than just the re-emerging of flannel button ups, chai tea (just me?), and pumpkin flavored everything.
It also means that the Second New Year is upon us, providing us the opportunity to revisit those well-intentioned goals we set in January.
It may be no surprise to you that only around 9% of people who make New Year’s Resolutions follow through with them.
But, I have to say that totally bums me out because I believe that a goal worth making is a goal worth chasing! Who’s with me on this?
Well, buckle up because I’m about to give you 5 simple steps you can take right now to breathe new life into those aging goals you made way back in the beginning of 2022.
I might even throw in a bonus step if my chai tea caffeinates me enough.
Of course, we’re going to focus on those financial goals you made but feel free to use these steps to revive other goals as well!
Also, if you didn’t set any resolutions at the beginning of the year, it’s not too late! Dream up some things you’d like to accomplish by the end of December and let’s get them moving in the right direction.
Step One: Discover What May Have Caused You to Fall Off Track
Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve fallen off track. Now’s the time for redemption!
Look back on how this year has gone and try to discover what may have caused you to lose sight of your earlier ambitions.
Did you bite off more than you could chew?
Were your goals too daunting, too numerous, or simply not motivating?
I recommend narrowing your options down to one high impact financial goal that can realistically be met by the end of December.
If you’re shooting at too many goals, they may start working against each other and prolonging your ability to make any headway.
Step Two: Make Adjustments
Let’s say you’d like to focus on a goal to pay off your car by the end of the year. That may not be feasible considering the year ends in 3 months.
But what if you resolve to pay off a certain amount by the end of the year, giving you a head start and momentum to pay the car off before the end of the following year?!
Whatever you do, be sure to give it a deadline that is both challenging and motivating.
Step Three: What’s Your “Why”
Once you know what your goal is going to be and you’ve made adjustment to make it motivating, challenging and reachable, it’s time to discover why this goal is important to you.
Without a strong why, you may not be willing to make the necessary sacrifices. If you can’t come up with a strong why for that goal, consider picking another goal that holds more weight.
Step Four: Write It Down
It’s time to put pen to paper! Write your goal out and be specific. Make sure to include steps you’ll take to reach it.
Most importantly, write out your” why.” This might sound complicated, but it shouldn’t be!
Here’s an example of how you might write this out:
“My goal is to pay $3,000 off on my car by December 31st. I could really use that $500 payment to help fund my dream of starting my own business and this will get me going in the right direction. The steps I will take to reach it are …” You get the picture!
Put it on a sticky note (or two) and hang it somewhere you’ll see it every day!
Step Five: Tell Someone You Trust
This might be the most important step so, bossy friend alert, don’t skip it!
It’s time to share your goal with a confidant who isn’t emotionally attached to your financial situation and will encourage you to stay on track!
Give this person permission to hold you accountable. Even ask them to check on your progress periodically!
Do be careful with your mindset here. This is all about growing your support system, not fearing letting someone down!
I recommend choosing someone who has similar financial values as you who will truly support you, not someone you’re afraid would challenge your values or shame you if you’re not staying on track like you’d hope.
This needs to be someone who will inject hope and push you to the finish line!
Bonus Sixth Step: Reward Yourself!
My Chai Tea did not disappoint in properly caffeinating me, so I present to you a bonus, and potentially your favorite, step!
Consider this a surprise dessert at the end of dinner. Now’s the time to think about how you’ll reward yourself after reaching this goal! It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant.
Maybe an extra cup of coffee at your favorite café will suit your needs. Maybe you take a day off work to celebrate the fruits of your labor (I won’t tell your boss if you don’t)!
Just make sure however you choose to celebrate fits within your budget and rest easy knowing that reaching your financial goals will only create more cashflow to enjoy the things you love!
What goal have you set that you are committing to reaching by the end of the year?
Whatever you do, don’t give up! If you need an extra push, set up a free call with me. I’d love to be one of your accountability partners.
Alicia is a rockstar Personal Finance Coach who loves helping her clients take the stress out of their finances. If you’re ready to win with money, schedule a free call with Alicia now!
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