Happy New Year! Are you busy setting goals for 2022?
At this time of year, many of us make resolutions – to kick a bad habit, like spending too much on take-out, or prepared food (guilty!) or to start a new healthy habit, like saving and investing regularly. The beginning of a new year feels like a fresh start, an opportunity to re-examine what’s working for us and what’s not. But sadly, 80% of us have abandoned our resolutions by February.
Why?
1. Our resolutions lack the clarity and details that lead to action.
Try setting goals that are SMART:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable (and Action-oriented)
Relevant
Timely
To learn more, check out this sample SMART goals worksheet.
2. We are lacking the motivation to get started.
To make your goals more compelling and motivating, try to set ones that are tied to your values. These are the things in life that are most important to you. As entrepreneur and author Jim Rohn says, “motivation is what gets you started, but habit is what keeps you going.”
3. Old habits die hard.
Habits are well-travelled pathways. They create grooves in the mind that rarely disappear completely. In his book Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, author BJ Fogg says that when it comes to change, tiny is mighty. Whether you’re trying to sleep better, eat healthier or save more money, make it easy, make it fit your life and make it rewarding.
Donation update:
A big thanks to all of you who bought a signed copy of The Wisest Investment during our December promotion!
As promised, we matched your purchases with a donation of books to the not-for-profit Target Alpha, Canada’s largest financial literacy organization for high school students. With over 30 school chapters and 500 members, their mission is to address the lack of financial literacy education for youth by running engaging competitions, hosting webinars with finance professionals, and distributing their comprehensive curriculum to members. All of their events and resources are free.
We are thrilled that the books will be used as prizes for an upcoming student competition!