The Only SMART Way to Set and Achieve Your 2025 Goals

Introduction

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, many of us take a moment to reflect on the past year and look forward to the possibilities that the new year brings. For many, this reflection leads to the formulation of New Year resolutions: promises to ourselves to make positive changes in our lives during the year. 

Unfortunately, research shows that a significant percentage of New Year resolutions fail. One reason for this is that many resolutions are too vague, overly ambitious, or too poorly planned. This is where the five SMART methods come in – a simple yet powerful framework for setting effective goals.

What is the SMART Method? 

BUY THE BOOK: The simple path to wealth (JL Collins)

SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It's a way of structuring your goals to make them clearer, more actionable, and more achievable

• Specific: Make your 2025 New Year resolution specific. A specific goal clearly defines what you want to achieve. It's not vague or general, but rather concrete and well-defined. For example, instead of "I have to save more money in 2025," a specific goal might be "I have to save 500,000 FCFA by the first quarter of 2025."
• Measurable: Your 2025 New Year Resolution should be measurable. A measurable goal allows you to track progress and stay motivated. It's quantifiable (countable), and you can measure success using numbers, percentages, or concrete measures. For example, "I want to increase my daily savings by 10%" is a measurable goal.
• Achievable: Your 2025 New Year Resolution must be achievable. An achievable goal is realistic and attainable based on your resources, skills, experience and personality. It should be slightly challenging, but not objectively impossible. For example, if you are new to saving and earn in between 100,000 FCFA and 300, 000 FCFA, setting a goal to save 400, 000 FCFA in 2 months might not be achievable. Instead, set a goal to save around 400, 000 FCFA in 6 months.
• Relevant: Your New Year Resolution should be relevant. A relevant goal aligns with your values, needs, and priorities. It's dear to you, and you're motivated to achieve it. For example, if your goal is to save 1,000, 000 FCFA annually, but you don't have a reason for saving that money, it might not be relevant.
• Time-bound: Your 2025 New Year Resolution should be time-bound. A time-bound goal has a specific deadline or timeframe of achievement. This creates a sense of urgency and focus. For example, "I want to save 200, 000 FCFA by the 2nd quarter of the year 2025" is a time-bound goal.

Putting the SMART Method into Practice

Now that you understand the SMART method, here are some examples of SMART 2025 New Year Resolutions that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound: 

Case Study One: 2025 Career resolution

"I will dedicate 2 hours, each weekend day to learning a new skill by reading a book or doing an online course, and attending at least 1 career development seminar per quarter, for the next 12 months, starting from January 1st, 2025, to advance my career and increase my earning potential."

Case study Two: 2025 Finance resolution (saving money)

"I want to save 300, 000 FCFA within the first 3 months of 2025 to advance payment on a new bike by uping my daily savings by 30%, and avoiding contracting unnecessary debts and spending unnecessarily." Here's a spreadsheet from Benjamin you can use to calculate your 'net worth.'

Case Study Three: 2025 Health and Wellbeing resolution

"I commit to exercising for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, eating healthily (more fruits and vegetables) everyday, and getting 6-7 hours of sleep per night, for the next 12 months, starting from January 1st, 2025, to improve my physical and mental health."

BUY THE BOOK: The simple path to wealth (JL Collins)

Case Study Four: 2025 Relationships resolution

"I will call or text at least one family member or friend daily, attend at least 1 social event per month, and engage (financially or physically) in a family or social cause accordingly, for the next 12 months, starting from January 1st, 2025, to nurture and strengthen my relationships."

Case Study Five: Hobbies and Personal Growth

"I commit to dedicating 1 hour each week to acquiring a new hobby or creative skill (if you don't have a specific one yet), and completing 1 personal project per quarter, for the next 12 months, starting from January 1st, 2025, to build my creativity and follow my passions."

Conclusion

Now that you know what a powerful tool the SMART method is and how to formulate new year resolutions effectively, I wish you a string of accomplishments in 2025. Remember, the key to achieving your goals is to create a clear plan and stick to it, to break down your goals into smaller tasks and set deadlines for each one, and to review your progress regularly and making adjustments as needed even against all odds. Cheers to a new you, and happy new year!