Goal Setting and a Wellness Starter for the Year
Last year, on January 1st 2024, I sat on my bed with a notepad in one hand and a pen in the other. I was determined. “This is going to be my year,” I told myself. I wrote down five goals: lose weight, save money, read 50 books, drink more water, and wake up at 5 a.m. every day. Sounds sweet, right? Well, guess how long I stuck to those goals? Two weeks.
By mid-January, my gym clothes were back in the closet, I was spending money on food delivery like it was a sport, and my water bottle became just another decoration on my desk. I even slept through my morning alarms. It wasn’t because I didn’t care—I cared a lot. I just didn’t have a plan.
Sound familiar?
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been in the same boat. You set big goals, and when life gets busy, those goals start to slip away. The problem isn’t that you’re lazy or unmotivated. The problem is that no one teaches us how to set achievable wellness goals or track personal goals effectively.
Let’s Start Real
Here’s the thing: most people fail in their goals because they try to change everything at once. You can’t go from eating pizza three times a week to suddenly becoming a meal-prepping guru. Or from binge-watching Netflix until midnight to magically being a 5 a.m. jogger. That’s not how life works.
So, let’s do this differently this year. Start with one small change. Yes, just one.
Instead of aiming to drink 3 liters of water daily, start with one glass every morning.
Instead of hitting the gym six days a week, try a 10-minute home workout.
Instead of planning a massive savings goal, start by saving $10 or R200 every week.
These little wins add up. And when they do, they build confidence. Confidence builds momentum. Momentum creates habits.
Why Wellness Goals Fail
A friend of mine decided last year that she’d run a marathon by the end of the year. She’d never run more than a mile before, but she was pumped. Every day, she’d post about her runs on social media. For a month, she was on fire. By March, her running shoes were gathering dust. She felt like a failure.
Here’s what I told her:
Wellness isn’t about big, flashy goals. It’s about being consistent. If she’d started with small personal growth goals—like jogging for 10 minutes, two or three times a week—she could’ve built up to that marathon. But she burned out before she even gave herself a chance to grow.
The same goes for you. Stop thinking you need to conquer the world in one day. Take it step by step.
A Starter Wellness Plan
Here’s a super simple wellness plan to kick off your year. No pressure, no overthinking:
Move for 10 Minutes: Walk, stretch, or dance in your kitchen—whatever you like. Just move.
Drink a Glass of Water First Thing in the Morning: This simple habit can kickstart your day.
Journal One Line Every Night: Write how your day went, one thing you’re proud of, or something you’re grateful for.
Sleep Earlier by 15 Minutes: You don’t need to go to bed at 9 p.m. Start small. Add 15 minutes every week.
Plan One Small Thing for Your Day: Whether it’s prepping lunch or reading a chapter of a book, give yourself something to look forward to.
Real Talk
If you’re rolling your eyes and thinking, “How will walking for 10 minutes or drinking water change my life?” Let me tell you this: it’s not about the activity itself. It’s about proving to yourself that you can show up. Once you master showing up for the small things, you’ll have the discipline to tackle personal development goal ideas or SMART goal-setting examples down the line.
By the end of this year, you’ll thank yourself for the tiny, consistent steps you took today. Goal-setting tips for beginners aren’t about creating a perfect plan. They’re about creating healthy daily habits and sticking with them.
So, what’s your first small step going to be? It’s all about setting better and realistic goals this year.
And to make the journey easier, join She Self Cares, our women’s community platform designed to encourage and empower you with resources, tips, and a supportive tribe to help you thrive.