Goal setting can be an emotive subject, the topic often being associated with successful people or
used by those working in the personal improvement world.

Wherever you stand on the subject it is simply the case that humans are goal setting beings. You
might not immediately recognise that you set goals every day, especially if your concept of goal
setting is formed around the idea of having written goals, with measures set to track your progress.

On a daily basis we set goals, such as being clear to set the alarm for a given time as you need to
catch a train or a flight. You have a goal to be somewhere a certain time. Your goal could be even
more mundane such as making sure to shop for groceries. Much of this minor goal setting takes
place sub consciously and has in reality become a habit.

Scientists have show that the most effective way to achieve a goal is to create new habits, especially
if you goal is to get rid of an old or bad habit such as smoking or not exercising. New habits are best
form by introducing the new habit in a very small way, baby steps if you like until the new activity
becomes a simple part of your everyday life, just like shopping for groceries or brushing your teeth.

December is a common time for people to consider new goals as the new year beckons.

Unfortunately, most New Year resolutions fall by the wayside before the end of January! Part of the
problem is we set goals that are too large to begin with and since we don’t necessarily see massive
improvement in a short time from we are prone to giving up. One way to avoid this is to be sure to
reframe your goal a new or new series of habits and to develop these in tin steps over time.

Bill Gates famously said “most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and
underestimate what they can achieve in ten years”.

Taking Gates’s words into account and the idea of new habits what can you do in 2024?