New Year, New You: Tips for Staying Motivated and Achieving Goals

Happy New Year, fellow creatives! As we start off the new year, I'm sure many of us are feeling excited and motivated to take on new creative projects and goals. And if you're anything like me, you may also feel a bit daunted by the prospect. After all, this is the time to start taking action on all our resolutions, and going from saying to doing can be intimidating!

So, to help you stay motivated and on track with your goals, I've put together some tips that have helped me stay focused.

Set Goals The Right Way

One of the most important steps in staying motivated and achieving your goals is setting them up for success from the start. Be specific about what you want to accomplish, break it down into manageable pieces, and set short-term deadlines for yourself along the way. Setting achievable goals can help prevent burnout or disappointment if things don’t go as planned.

Pick Your One Thing

It can be tempting to take on a lot of projects at once, but it’s best to focus your energy and attention on one thing at a time. Pick the project that is most important to you and prioritize it over all the rest. That way, when things get tough, you’re more likely to stay focused and motivated.

In The One Thing, authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan argue that the key to success in any area of your life is to identify and focus on the "one thing" that will have the biggest impact. They suggest that by focusing on one thing at a time, you can eliminate distractions and make the most of your time and energy.

According to the authors, the "one thing" is the most important task or project you should work on at any given time. It might be a long-term goal or a short-term priority, but the key is to identify what it is and make it a priority.

To find your "one thing," the book suggests asking yourself the following question: "What is the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" By answering this question, you can identify the task or project that will have the greatest impact on your success and focus your efforts on it. This can help you eliminate distractions and make the most of your time and energy.

Set Goals That Will Help You Grow

Think about what type of growth you want to see in yourself this year. Maybe it's mastering a new skill, starting a blog or business, or just reading more books. Whatever your goal is, make sure it's something that will push you out of your comfort zone and help you reach the next level.

Write Down Your Goals

Writing down your goals not only helps you to focus on what's important, but it also keeps you accountable for taking action. Put your goals somewhere you'll see them every day, like a vision board or list near your desk.

Break Your Big Goals Into Tasks

Start by writing down your major goals for the year, and then break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, if your goal is to improve your art skills, create a list of things you need to do: take classes, watch tutorials, practice a certain amount of time each week, etc. This will help make it easier for you to take action instead of getting overwhelmed by the big goal.

Measure Your Progress

In order to stay motivated, it’s important to track your progress. Having something tangible to look at can help you stay on task and focused on the end goal. You can use a simple spreadsheet or journal to track how much time you have invested your project, any milestones you’ve achieved, and what your next step is.

If you want to dive deeper into this topic, I have written a lot in the past about goal setting for artists and creatives.

Plan Ahead And Be Flexible

One of the most important tips for staying motivated is to plan ahead and know when to be flexible. Set a schedule for yourself and plan out what tasks you need to accomplish each week. But also be aware that things won’t always go as planned, so be prepared to adjust your plans if needed.

Set a Schedule

Now that you have broken your goals down into tasks, set up a schedule to help keep yourself on track. This could include setting aside specific days of the week to work on certain projects or tasks or even hourly blocks of time throughout the day in which you can focus on a specific task. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you're making progress toward your goals.

Take Breaks

It's easy to get overwhelmed when working on a big project or goal, but taking regular breaks can help boost your motivation and creativity. Taking a few minutes to step away from the project can help clear your head and give you a fresh perspective when coming back to it. If you're feeling burnt out, be sure to check out our blog post on 'Conquering Burnout as a Creative Entrepreneur' for tips on how to stay energized and avoid burnout.

Adapt To Your Circumstances

If you find yourself struggling to stay motivated, take a step back and assess your situation. Things like stress, fatigue, or other commitments can interfere with your ability to stay focused on your goals. Adapting your plans and expectations to fit your current circumstances can help you maintain momentum without burning out.

First and Foremost, Be Kind To Yourself

The most important thing to remember is that life happens. Be kind to yourself, and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t accomplish everything on your list. Celebrate even the smallest successes along the way, and know it’s okay to adjust your goals as needed.

Make the Journey Its Own Reward

At the end of the day, it's not about reaching a certain goal or achieving a certain result but rather about enjoying the journey. Focus on creating a workflow you enjoy and designing your new habits in a sustainable and fun way. After all, you will have to keep up with them for a long time, so make sure you're designing a new lifestyle where you're not just surviving but also thriving every step of the way.

For more tips on how to develop healthy, productive habits as a creative, be sure to check out my blog post on Atomic Habits for Creatives.

Find Inspiration

When it comes to creativity, inspiration is key; however, finding it can be difficult. That's why it's important to set aside some time each week for activities that spark creativity and motivation. This could include anything from walking in nature to reading a book, watching a movie or listening to your favourite podcast. In The Artist's Way, author Julia Cameron also suggests a daily practice called 'morning pages,' which involves writing three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing first thing in the morning to help clear the mind and uncover hidden feelings and ideas. Cameron also recommends taking weekly 'artist dates,' which are solo outings or activities that are specifically designed to feed the artist's soul and stimulate creativity. By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can create more opportunities for inspiration and keep your creativity and motivation fueled.

Tiny note here in case you are considering picking up this book: The Artist’s Way is definitely not a book for everyone as it gets quite spiritual, I am not a spiritual person, but I have found it quite helpful and therapeutic as the author’s background as a counsellor shines through all the universe talk.

Surround Yourself With Positive People

As an introvert, I know this piece of advice can feel especially difficult to hear. It can be intimidating to put yourself out there and surround yourself with people, especially when you're used to working alone or in small groups. However, having supportive people in your life can be incredibly motivating and make all the difference, especially when things get tough. It might mean joining a mastermind group or online community of other creatives or simply finding a few close friends who can act as your cheerleaders. Don't underestimate the power of a good support system, and try to find ways to connect with others who will encourage you to keep striving for your goals.

So, if you want to make this year your best one yet, it's important to set clear goals and establish the right habits. It can be tough to stay motivated, and on track, but with a solid plan in place and a positive outlook, you can make real progress towards achieving your dreams.

To get started, take some time to think about what you want to accomplish this year and break it down into smaller tasks. Set a schedule for yourself, and make sure to take regular breaks to stay energized. Don't forget to be kind to yourself along the way and find inspiration wherever you can. It's also a good idea to surround yourself with positive people who will support your growth. By following these steps, you can make this year your best one yet!