New Year, New Me?

I’m a sucker for a new years’ goal.

The term ‘resolution’ feels too… I don’t know… resolute? But ‘goal’? Now that’s something I can get behind.

Often, when we think of New Years’ goals, we picture crash dieting, punishing gym routines, or trying to completely reinvent ourselves. Clearly, that’s a recipe for burnout and disappointment. I prefer a much gentler (and way less pretentious) approach.

There’s something about the liminal space between Christmas and New Year, where the world slows down, and we finally get a moment to reflect. It’s natural to look back at the past year and evaluate how life is shaping up. I understand this can be a not-so-nice experience if you’ve had a particularly tough year, but I genuinely believe there’s value in it.

Self-improvement culture has its fair share of problems. The constant pressure to ‘be better’ or ‘evolve’ can be exhausting—and frankly, it’s a little gross. At the same time, while the backlash against hustle culture and toxic self-help is overdue and necessary, I do worry we might be swinging too far in the other direction. Reflecting on our lives and setting intentions for what we want is still important. Our time on this Earth is so limited, how tragic to not live a life fulfilled?

So, how do we set goals that actually work?

Well, lucky for you, I have a Bachelor’s degree that quite literally culminated in learning how to set SMART goals (obviously they are super relevant to naturopathy as they are invaluable when helping people make changes to their health). And before you roll your eyes, hear me out. Yes, SMART goals can sound a bit dry, but they’re incredibly effective. Without them, how would you know what steps to take or measure your progress? Inconceivable!

If you’re unfamiliar with SMART goals, let me break it down:

SMART Goals

S - Specific. Don’t be vague. Get laser-focused. Break down your big goal into smaller, actionable steps. For example, instead of saying, “I want to get better at swimming,” you could say, “I want to improve my breathing technique.” Tackling one specific area will make the broader goal of becoming a better swimmer feel much more achievable.

M - Measurable. This is where many people trip up. How will you know you’ve succeeded if you don’t set clear markers for progress? Even if your goal isn’t tied to numbers, you need to find a way to measure success—whether it’s timing your swim laps or simply feeling less winded after each session.

A - Attainable. Be honest with yourself. Is this goal something you can realistically achieve? Setting yourself up for success starts with making sure your goal is within reach.

R - Realistic. Time for a reality check. If you’ve never run a kilometre in your life, don’t aim to run 10km on your first day. Start where you are, not where you wish you were. Your goals should fit into your current lifestyle and abilities.

T - Time-bound. Every goal needs a deadline. Giving yourself a time frame not only creates urgency but also gives you a chance to reassess. How’s it going? Do you need to adjust the difficulty? Have you achieved it and want to aim higher? Smaller, time-bound steps are key to tackling larger goals.

Once you’ve got all that figured out, write it out as one (probably very long) sentence.

Need an example? Fine. You’re in luck because I’m feeling generous enough to share one of my 2025 goals with you:

“Over the next 8 weeks, I will watch at least one webinar of my choosing per week to nurture and expand my naturopathic knowledge, with the aim of better assisting my clients and reducing my feelings of imposter syndrome.”

And there you have it. Goals don’t have to be daunting or life-altering overnight. With a little thought and structure, they can be the gentle nudge that steers you toward the life you want to live. So, what’s your first SMART goal for 2025?