Setting Good Goals For January Is Important for Personal Growth
Forget New Year’s resolutions; focus on good January goals and make it an excellent start to your new year.
To do so, I have a group of ten personal development tips you (and I) can accomplish in one month for short-term success.
Let’s go through it; then, you can set these January monthly goal ideas to improve it!
January Goals For A Great Start To The New Year
New year, new month goals! Thus, here are my best suggestions for January goal-setting ideas:
- Create a vision of your perfect self
- Read a book on self-improvement
- Focus on your fitness
- Stop drinking alcohol
- Assess your finances
- Reduce nonessential spending
- Solve a problem at work
- Improve your family room
- Do something that makes you happy
- Invite a friend over for dinner
Next, let’s discuss each of these points one at a time.
Create your 31-day challenge to start the year. After that, start working on your February goals.
Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
1. Create A Vision Of Your Perfect Self
Your January goals should start with a vision of what you want to become. How can you decide what to work on if you don’t know what matters most to you in life?
To develop your vision, think out five years and ask yourself questions like the following:
- Where do I want to work?
- How much money do I want to have?
- With whom do I spend my time?
- How do I spend my free time?
- What makes me happy?
- What do I value in life?
If you accomplish one thing in January, create a bucket list with a clear long-term vision of the perfect you. The images you create for your future will often become a reality.
2. Read A Book On Self-Improvement
Find a good book for personal development and read it. The library is full of them.
By reading a book about self-improvement, you will learn ways to improve in the long term. Thus, look for ideas to include in your vision. Also, how to break out of your comfort zone.
If reading isn’t your preferred option for learning, check out this online course:
The content is full of ideas for personal growth.
Okay. Let’s get more practical with some January goal examples you can accomplish in 30 days.
3. Focus On Your Fitness
If you are like me, you have a little extra weight to work off because of the holidays. Thus, a good January goal idea is to exercise regularly.
Go to the health club three times per week, walk 1 mile every other day, or stretch your muscles to improve your flexibility.
Please make goals of this type simple and achievable. Less aggressive fitness goals are more likely to be accomplished versus aggressive ones.
4. Stop Drinking Alcohol
If you drink, stop for the month. Participate in the increasingly popular Dry January.
You will feel better, sleep better, and have more energy. Couple this with your fitness goal; I suspect you can shed a few pounds.
This one is on my list of goals to complete in January for the first time. But, of course, easier said than done because I like unwinding with a couple of beers almost every evening.
5. Assess Your Finances
Another excellent January goal to have is money-related. But I’m not suggesting you change your money world with goals in one month.
However, it’s essential to start the year knowing where you stand. Thus, walk away from January with two critical numbers.
First, determine what you own. Second, figure out what you owe.
Subtract the second number from the first to calculate your net worth. And now you know where you stand financially.
Okay. We are halfway done with today’s list. Next, here is another one of January’s many possible financial goals.
But first, please save this pin to your favorite Pinterest board:
6. Reduce Nonessential Spending
Look at your budget for the new month. If you don’t have a budget, set a January goal to create one.
Either way, reduce your nonessential spending. Make a small sacrifice to save some money.
What’s nonessential? Good question.
I say anything not related to the basics for your home, groceries, and transportation.
For example, cut down on impulse buys, clothing, alcoholic beverages, and restaurant meals during January and see what you can save. Most importantly, small steps like this can lead to more significant financial successes later.
7. Solve A Problem At Work
So, you have enjoyed being away from work during the holidays. But now, it’s time to go back.
Identify a work problem that has been bothering you and set a goal to solve it.
Don’t try to change the world because you won’t. Instead, choose something within your control to improve your work.
8. Improve Your Family Room
January is an excellent month to achieve relaxation in your home. So make your family room, or wherever it is you relax, as lovely as possible.
Clean it, declutter it, and rearrange the furniture to your liking.
Then, enjoy it. Settle in and read your selected self-improvement book, listen to music, or stream enjoyable programming as part of your monthly goals.
9. Do Something That Makes You Happy Every Single Day
Let’s be honest; January can be a tough month.
First, the rush of the holidays is over, and you must return to work. Second, the winter weather can be nasty depending on where you live.
On the other hand, January is also a great month to set yourself up for success. Also, to accelerate progress in your life.
So, choose one or more things that make you happy; then do these things every day. Exactly what you choose is entirely up to you.
10. Invite A Friend Over For Dinner
Finally, connect with an old friend, make a new friend, or consider a family member and invite one of them to your home for dinner.
Thus, improving upon a personal relationship. Furthermore, take a sincere interest in your chosen guest and their activities. We can learn a lot by listening to people.
More reading: 30-day challenge for every month
Next, and before I wrap up, a point on goal setting.
How To Set January Goals
Next, your January goal setting continues even after choosing from this list of January goal ideas. Most importantly, you must put yourself in the best position to achieve and succeed.
Best of all, setting goals is easy when you go about the process correctly.
I won’t go into the details here because I have an entire article addressing the necessary steps for setting monthly goals and achieving them. I highlight it so you can read it now or bookmark it for reading later.
Okay. That’s my ten best January goals to set. Also, a resource for setting monthly goals the right way.
So, please allow me to wrap up with some final thoughts.
Setting January Goals For Self-Improvement
Too often, getting caught up in making grand New Year’s resolutions is easy. Nothing is wrong with that; however, simple, achievable January goals are a better alternative.
Start your new year plan by accomplishing a few essential things. Also, make sure they fit within your long-term vision.
Rest assured, small but meaningful improvements now add to big successes later.
Goals For Each Month
As you look out long term, you may also like to have plenty of ideas for monthly goals to support your vision.
For your use, here are ten goals for all the other months of the year.
That’s all I’ve got. However, if you have a little extra time, check out our
Entire Archives of Goal-Setting Posts
Find a helpful article because self-improvement is always in style!
Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.