How to Tackle Your Goals in 4 Easy Steps

The year is winding down and  it’s time to check in on our goal progress for this year as well as set our personal and financial goals for the New Year.  As you know I set some pretty aggressive personal, professional and money goals for myself this year.

For my money goal I wanted to save a set dollar amount (I prefer it over percentages because I like to have fixed goals and work towards a set target), in my professional life I wanted to learn more about SEO and although I’m far from being a master I am comfortable that my knowledge has grown substantially.  It should be no surprise that my personal goal including travelling.  I wanted to travel as often as possible and with four trips to New York City this year I feel my mission was accomplished.

My goals for the new year include focusing on my own projects, enjoying my life more and taking better care of my health.  At first glance they all seem like pretty easy goals right?  But the truth is each one requires a separate set of skills that I’m not totally convinced I have.

Here are four steps to help you tackle new goals:

Prioritize and focus

Although all my goals are achievable (fingers crossed) I don’t have time or the energy to give 100% to each of them.  Focusing on my health is the priority and that will naturally get better as I start to work less and free up more time for fun things.  By no means do I hate my life right now, but I do spend an enormous time working and a lot of time worrying about what I have to get done.  That definitely has to stop.

Rearrange your schedule

When adding new goals it’s just common sense that some other tasks have to be dropped to free up time.  As much as we would like to think we’re superheroes we just can’t do it all – there just aren’t that many hours in the day.

With my new priorities it’s only natural that I have to take a step back from other commitments and unfortunately Dinks Finance is one of them.  This is my last week with Dinks and Wednesday will be my last post.

Don’t be afraid of a new start

Dinks Finance has been a big part of the last six years of my life and although it’s hard to picture my life without it, I’m looking forward to what’s to come.  I’ve wanted to get in shape for a long time and with 10-12 hour workdays I just never had the time – at least that’s what I told myself.  I will now be able to enjoy yoga and going to the gym four days a week.

I’m excited about starting new projects.  As you know a fresh start can be both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.  My new ventures include partnering with a friend to start a travel blog and launching my own social media consulting business.

Check in on the progress

I don’t think I would have achieved any of my three goals this year if I didn’t check in on the progress.  I had to cut out spending (and travelling) to make sure I achieved my savings goal.  However you want to do it – apps, spreadsheets, daily reminders – make sure you continue to check in on the status of your progress.

We have two months left in the year and I’ve achieved all my goals.  Now that’s something to be proud of.

Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.