Ready to Make 2026 Different? Four Ways to Actually Stick to Your Goals

At the beginning of every year, people have the conversation about what their New Year's resolutions will be to improve their health and wellbeing, finances, relationships, or careers. They say this year will be different. This will be the year they stick.

However, within weeks, the resolutions have been abandoned. The second Friday of January is known as Quitters Day because this is generally when people give up on their resolutions.

But as a friend said to me recently, trying the same thing and hoping something will change is the sign of insanity. We may not need resolutions, but for things to shift and change in our lives, we need goals and to be taking action towards them through the highs and lows. As they say, change doesn't happen overnight, so why would we expect our resolutions to be any different?

I'm raising this because if you're here, you have aspirations in life, and I want to support you on that journey to achieve what you wish to see. This blog will share four ways to approach your goals to ensure long-term success.

Understanding what a goal requires

Research outlines that a goal is a desired future state coupled with a set of actions that promote the attainment of that end state. As you can see from this definition, a goal or resolution isn't just the end result itself but the shifts in behaviour and repetitive actions needed to get there. I believe this is where people fall short first. It's forgotten that changing behaviour is required, as we're often bringing something to light that hasn't happened yet and is not likely to happen on its own.

One of my goals this year is to be more accountable in my spending to align with my goals of replacing my car and going on a European holiday.

To achieve this, I knew my spending patterns were not appropriate to enable these purchases, so I've had to implement steps to help achieve these goals (which you can read about here).

I've also committed to a number of actions to cultivate changes in my behaviour and ensure this can be sustained long-term.

The type of goals you set

In life, we can set lots of types of goals. When clients come to me, they're often navigating career change and want that new job or promotion. Goals are often viewed through a practical lens, and that's important. However, I believe a goal requires more than practicality or necessity. There needs to be a sense of aspirational pull towards it so it connects to your sense of motivation. I think it's important to consider how you want your goal to make you feel. That's really the essence of the human experience, how you feel, whether you like something or not and this is often the missing ingredient. Meaning provides momentum.

Set the vision for your goal

The definition I shared earlier highlights that through your goal, you may be exploring uncharted territory, so having a vision can really help you create that connection to where you're going and formulate the pathway to the desired end result.

Think of your vision as a detailed picture of what success looks like. It's not just about saying "I want a new job" or "I want to be healthier", instead it's about painting the full picture. What does your day look like when you've achieved this goal? How do you feel? What are you doing differently? Who are you surrounded by?

This vision becomes your compass when motivation wanes or obstacles appear. When you can clearly see and feel where you're heading, it's easier to make decisions that align with that future version of yourself. It also helps you identify the steps needed to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

Take time to write down your vision in detail, or create a visual representation of it. Return to this vision regularly, especially when things feel challenging. Your vision reminds you why you started and keeps you connected to the deeper purpose behind your goal.

The truth of habit change

Why do most resolutions fail? We need systems in place to achieve them and need to remove the need for immediate rewards. Mic drop.

First, systems are like architecture and need to be stable and predictable. When the new year comes around, we're highly motivated for "new year, new me," but motivation changes daily, and once we return to our lives, work, and routines, this can drop.

So we need systems in place, like routines, environmental cues, and scheduled time which can drive long-term success. It may feel hard at first, but over time it becomes habit.

And we need to override the need for immediate reward. Change takes time and at times doesn't feel like it's working. So we need to override this tension to build the momentum towards achieving our goals in life.

So how do you achieve goals in 2026?

Every person has their own style, but by understanding some of the factors that go into goal setting, I hope you begin to implement steps to achieve what you wished for in 2026.

That's where coaching is such a powerful process too. Just like the athlete who has their team to support them towards their competitive goals, a life coach works in that role for people aspiring towards the many goals they have in life.

As a coach, I work one-on-one with clients over a three-month period (six sessions) where they work on two to three goals. Often clients find me when they're facing changes in their career, but we also tend to work on personal goals, work-life balance, hobbies, or relationships. Working on too many goals at one time unsupported can be unsustainable, but with accountability and support, it's possible.

I always start with a pre-coaching questionnaire and a free discovery call before any commitment, so you can make sure I'm the right coach for you and your goals, or I can make a recommendation. If it's something you're interested in or have questions about, find out more or please contact me at hello@jacquelinesmith.com.au.