10 Questions to Help You Set Goals (and Keep Them!)

Have you made New Year’s resolutions? And failed to keep them?

It’s ok… we all have.

And if you’ve done that too many times, you may not be inclined to make new goals this year — but I urge you to reconsider.

Goal-Setting Should Be Motivating and Exciting

Setting goals doesn’t have to be a disappointing or a self-shaming experience. In fact, it should be motivating and exciting.

I love to set goals, knowing that some I’ll keep, and others I won’t. And I’m okay with that. I don’t see it as failure, but as a process and a journey.

Whether you hate setting goals, or maybe you’re an avid goal setter like I am, read on!

Questions to Help You Set and Keep Your Goals

I’m a huge goal setter. I look forward to a fresh start every year.

Setting goals and making resolutions have helped me accomplish some of my biggest life goals, including publishing a book (three and counting) and earning the ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive credential).

10 Questions to Reflect Upon Last Year

Before setting goals for the coming year, it’s always helpful to reflect on the past 12 months. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. What am I most proud of?
2. What did I accomplish?
3. What am I most grateful for?
4. What was a smart decision I made?
5. What was the biggest risk I took?
6. What was the most important thing I did for myself?
7. What was the most important thing I did for others?
8. What was I not able to accomplish?
9. What was my biggest challenge?
10. Do I have any regrets?

When setting goals for the coming year, consider the answers to the questions above to determine how you want to move forward.

6 Areas to Consider When Prioritizing Your Goals

Next, as you start to prioritize your goals, consider big categories in your life. The obvious ones include:

1. Friends and Family
2. Health (mental and physical)
3. Finances
4. Career
5. Community
6. Self

An Example: My Top 10 Goals Publicly Declared

It’s more likely that you’ll accomplish goals if you write them down and share them with others. Feel free to share yours in the comments below.

Here are some of my goals for the coming year to get you started on your goal-setting journey:

1. Read one book for pleasure every month
2. Say “yes” to my kids more often than “no”
3. Exercise at least twice a week
4. Run four 5K races (one per quarter)
5. Eat two plant-based meals every day
6. Donate 10% of my income to charity
7. Save 10% of my income for retirement
8. Volunteer for three nonprofits
9. Work with 100 organizations through Capital Campaign Pro
10. Give 6 keynote speeches at nonprofit conferences

Lower Priority “Just for Fun” Goals

And here are some smaller goals, just for fun…

• Ride a bike along a boardwalk
• Sing at a dueling piano bar
• Take a hike to a waterfall
• Go to a spa
• Plan a weekend with old friends
• Spend a day with new friends
• Swim in a lake
• Bake challah
• Host a dinner party every month

Set Your Own Goals Right Here

What are your goals? Go on record and really commit to it by declaring your intent in the comments below. Don’t be shy!

And if you’re looking for some additional tips to start this New Year off with a bang, check these out.