As the year comes to a close, we should be about 95% of the way through achieving our 2024 goals. If not, that’s okay! There's always next year, and we can approach our goal-setting with a more strategic plan.

Why do we need goals? The fundamentals of goal setting are understanding where your next step lies and where you want to focus your energy in this chaotic world. Goals can motivate you, provide a sense of purpose, and offer the satisfaction that comes with achievement. They keep us moving forward as humans. Read on to discover how you can plan the best and most achievable goals for 2025.

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First things first: Reflection

Reflecting on the past year sets your heart at peace before moving ahead to 2025.

1. Write down a list of things you're thankful for this year, even if they’re small.

Practicing gratitude helps us let go of any bitterness we may carry from the past year. It realigns our priorities and helps us become optimistic once again.

2. Reflect on your past goals and identify areas for improvement.

Whether or not you’ve achieved your goals this year, it’s always important to look back and consider how you can continue growing. If you did well, ask yourself questions like, “What was my biggest win, and what contributed to it?”

If some goals didn’t come to fruition, ask, “What opportunities did I miss, or what challenges did I face? How can I overcome them?” These questions will help set you up for success in 2025.

Next, we prioritise. There are a hundred and one goals we want to achieve, but trying to accomplish everything at once will likely lead to nothing. Take the time to prioritise what matters most to you. You can rank them if you wish and categorise them into long-term and short-term goals.

Introducing the SMART strategy

Whether you're setting a long-term or short-term goal, S.M.A.R.T. goals help you write them down in detail. Each letter represents a specific criterion.

Specific

Be very specific and detailed about what you want to achieve. For example, instead of writing “Get rich” which is vague, you can change it to “Get a high-paying job” which is more specific, leading you to become wealthier.

Measurable

Most goals should be measurable so you can track your progress and know when you’ve achieved them. Take the goal of “Get rich,” for example. What does “rich” mean to you? Is it the number of zeroes in your bank account? Owning multiple properties? This time, you could rephrase it as "To have $100,000 in my bank account" or "To own 2 properties by 2025." These are measurable goals with clear targets and deadlines.

Attainable

Be realistic. Everyone has big dreams, but reality is the truth. For example, “To have $100,000 in my bank account” may not be realistic in one year if you're earning a fixed monthly salary of less than $40,000. You can either change your lifestyle to increase your income through other legal means, or adjust your goal to something more attainable, like “To save $10,000 in 2025.”

Relevant

Making your goal relevant motivates you to achieve it. Consider why you're setting this goal and whether it aligns with your overall objectives. You might ask yourself, “Is this goal going to benefit me? In what ways? Am I capable of achieving it?” For example, if you're planning to save $10,000 in 2025, how will this money help you? Perhaps it could contribute significantly to an upcoming home renovation or fund that dream holiday you've been thinking about. Whatever it is, ensuring your goals are relevant is an important step.

Time-Bound

Having a timeline or deadline helps keep things on track. While you may be setting a goal for 2025, it doesn’t mean all your deadlines should be pushed to 31 December 2025! In fact, it's better to create multiple short-term goals that contribute to your year-end objective. For example, if you're aiming to save $10,000 by 2025, set your first goal as “Save $3,000 by March 2025”.

Here’s an example of how to incorporate all the elements and write a S.M.A.R.T. goal. Let’s say the goal is to start exercising in 2025 (a common goal that many set but fail to complete). 

Write it like this: In 2025, I want to start strength training at the gym twice a week and reduce my body fat by 5% by April 2025.

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When you achieve that, take a moment to celebrate because you deserve it. Even if you didn't lose the full 5% body fat, losing 3% is still a huge win, as you're one step closer to being healthier! Tweak your goals as you go, because we understand that lifestyle changes can happen frequently. Most importantly, always remember to love yourself and not get so caught up in chasing dreams that you forget to live.

We hope 2025 brings lots of joy to all of you and that many of you are able to achieve all your goals! Continue to stay tuned to what merewards has to offer by turning on our app notifications. Our goal is to bring more attractive deals for you to enjoy with your loved ones. Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!

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