Are You a Goal-Setter?

by Steph Beth Nickel

Perhaps you’re like me. You enjoy setting goals and listing what you would like to accomplish in the new year—even if you know you will only achieve a fraction of those goals (at best). Although those around you may not be able to understand, the act of creating this list in and of itself brings a sense of excitement and anticipation even if you know it’s more of a thought experiment than a roadmap.

Maybe you shy away from setting goals because you feel like a failure if you don’t reach them. Or perhaps, you set only a limited number of achievable goals so you can check them off your list in short order and then go on to create another brief list.

No matter what kind of a goal-setter you are (or aren’t), here are six pointers when it comes to considering what you want to achieve in 2026:

1. Make a list of things that are important to you (i.e.: relationships with family and friends, your physical health, your emotional / mental health, time management, career goals, etc., etc.).
2. List one achievable goal that you could reach by the end of January (or the end of March at the latest) and one “pie-in-the-sky” goal for each category. (If listing a plethora of goals brings you joy, go for it!)
3. Now, break down each achievable goal into its most basic components. (For example, say your goal is to write the first draft of a novella in the first quarter [Q1] of 2026. Step #1 could simply be to write for at least 15 minutes or until you’ve added 250 words to the manuscript for three days the first week and slowly increase from there. If checkmarks, stickers, or smiley faces on a physical calendar give you a boost, let the endorphins flow—no matter how old you are. I’m 64 and love stickers and checkmarks—but especially stickers.)
4. This suggestion might be a little more challenging, but it’s important. Although the overarching categories you listed may all seem to have equal importance, it’s good to prioritize them—at least the highest ranking two or three.
5. When you’ve chosen your highest priority categories, chose one specific goal in each and then one achievable, targeted goal. (Let’s say improving your physical health and connecting with extended family members are two of your top priorities. Your specific goals could be to develop the habit of eating better and emailing, texting, or popping a physical note in the mail each week. Zeroing down even further, you could add a serving of vegetables to each evening meal and create a list of four to eight family members you will touch base with in January.)
6. And remember not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you don’t achieve your goal today, remind yourself that tomorrow is another day. If you are consistently “falling short,” adjust your goals. It’s okay to do so. Really, it is.

You’ll notice that I haven’t listed any “negative goals.”

Do I have at least one bad habit I want to stop? Sure I do.

Could I apply guilt and shame to my goal-setting (such as “stop eating such and such” or “stay off social media entirely”)? Absolutely.

Could I label myself a failure if I don’t achieve my Q1 goals—again? I could.

However…

By listing those things I want to accomplish, seeking to add “positives” rather than eliminate “negatives,” and focusing on a limited number of goals at any given time, I’m far more likely to achieve at least some of them.

What’s your #1 goal for 2026? What’s the first step you intend to take to achieve it? Are you like me and simply enjoy creating the list?

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As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.

If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.