Happy New Year everyone! It’s the time where we make all our New Year’s Resolutions, but it turns out that only 8% of people who set a New Year’s Resolution actually achieve it.

This is because our attitude to setting goals is all wrong. It’s not a static thing that we decide once per year – we should be setting goals every day!

You probably have a hundred things to do right now. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone! Grab a pen and notebook, or download the template below, and let’s sort through our goals together.

(This method is based off the 5 Day Goal Detox by Career Girl Daily and Warren Buffet’s 2 list method.)

This is the first day of a 5-day process, so don’t lose your worksheet!

The Two-List Method

Lists are the best way for getting your thoughts down in a fairly structured way onto paper. For your first list, write down your top 25 goals, whether they are short-term, long-term, outrageous, insignificant – it doesn’t matter. See below if you need some inspiration from my list!

My List 1

1. Understand finance stuff
2. Learn guitar
3. Declutter my life
4. Achieve my predicted grades
5. Be a good friend and family member
6. Make a successful blog
7. Watch Mr Robot, Black Mirror, the Apprentice (UK version, of course)
8. Plan my post-IB trips
9. Set up my own business
10. Read various books that I’ve been planning on reading for a long time
11. Learn mandarin
12. Write a book
13. Get fit
14. Volunteer abroad
15. Learn how to lucid dream
16. Write and perform my own song
17. Visit South America
18. Perform solo piano in a concert
19. Go to a concert/music festival
20. Skydive/learn how to fly a plane
21. Learn to code
22. Participate in GISHWHES
23. Become a minimalist
24. Get on the front page of a newspaper
25. Pick up chess again

Now, circle the top 5. This is definitely the more difficult part of this small exercise, and you may be surprised as this could teach you what is most important to you! It’s crucial to let go of some of the goals that you really want to achieve to make way for the goals that are most important to you.

My List 2

1. Understand finance stuff
2. Achieve my predicted grades
3. Perform solo piano in a concert
4. Be a good friend and family member
5. Plan my post-IB trips

The Next Stage: Deconstructing Your Goals

Now leave your notebook/worksheet – that’s quite enough thinking for today! Check back tomorrow for the next step in refocussing your goals with me.

From tomorrow, the rest of these posts will be private so to get the password there are 2 things you need to do!

1. Follow this blog using the button on the right or by submitting your email.
2. Either like my page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter to get the password to the next stage tomorrow!

I would love to see your lists – post them on my Facebook page or tag me on Twitter!

What are your top 5 priorities? Did you find selecting them difficult? Did some of your priorities surprise you? Let me know in the comments below!