As Spring approaches, everything begins to come alive.  New growth is everywhere, days are longer, and people seem to have a renewed energy.  As I reflect on his time of the year, I think of how we can start anew.  Spring is the perfect time for us to set goals and work on future visions!

Think of where you are now and where you want to be this time next year.  This will help you begin to envision what direction you want your life to go.  

Be careful not to set too many goals. Instead, try setting one goal in several areas of your life.  The key is to not overwhelm yourself with too many goals in too many directions.  Our motivation to work towards them can decrease if we feel torn between which goals to accomplish first.  

Write down your goals and put them in a place you walk past often so you will read them every day.  

Make your goals in the present positive, and think as if they are already happening.  Avoid using negative words like stop, quit, never. 

Make sure your goals are within your control and not dependent on someone else or another circumstance.  

Be specific about what you want, when you want it, and how it will look when you achieve it.  

If you have bigger goals, you might want to break them down into smaller ones.  By achieving a part of a larger goal, you can feel more positive and increase your motivation to continue towards the target product.  

Identify obstacles that could deter you from your goals and block your progress.  Being aware of these and knowing when they come up will help you choose to take action against them.