Three Easy Ways to Set Attainable New Year’s Goals (And How PRISM Can Help You Achieve Them)

The New Year is filled with traditions, the most enduring of them is setting resolutions. For over 4,000 years, people have used this time of the year to set intentions for self-improvement. Some succeed, but many are left feeling guilty when their resolutions fall short.  

In this blog, we’ll explore three simple strategies for setting realistic New Year’s Resolutions and show you how to incorporate PRISM into your lives to support your success throughout the year.  

Creating Attainable and Actionable Goals This New Year 

Strategy One: Reflecting on Your Values and Basing Growth on Them 

Before imagining the finish line of your goal, the first step is to reflect on what truly matters to you. Goals rooted in personal core values are more likely to resonate and become meaningful aspects of your daily life. Researchers show that approximately 10% of all those who make resolutions complete them. By aligning your resolutions with your own personal mission, you increase the likelihood of achieving success and experiencing lasting fulfillment.  

An example of this strategy would be:  

After reflecting, you determine that being involved within your communities is very important to you and makes you feel fulfilled.  To honor and maximize this experience, consider setting goals around volunteering, advocacy, and interaction within their communities. This reflection will help connect your goals and actions deeper to yourself and values.  

How PRISM Can Help: PRISM’s community programs, such as volunteering and advocacy opportunities, allow you to align your goals with values of service and support. By getting involved, you’ll have a supportive network to help you succeed. 

Strategy Two: Setting SMART Goals 

To create goals that are both achievable and actionable, consider formulating these goals into the SMART framework. Created in 1981 by George Doran, Doran noticed how many businesses and people’s goals were to vague and lofty to achieve, causing many to fail. As a solution, Doran introduced this formatting and how it can be applied to ANY goal. SMART stands for: 

• Specific: Clearly define your goal (e.g., “Volunteer 5 hours per month”). 

• Measurable: Establish criteria to track progress. 

• Achievable: Ensure the goal is realistic given your current resources and commitments. 

• Relevant: Align the goal with your broader values and priorities. 

• Time-bound: Set a clear deadline. 

An example of setting a SMART goal, that reflects your values would look like this:  

“I really need to clean out my closet, I hardly wear any of these clothes! I don’t want them in my house anymore, but if I bring these clothes to the dumpster they are just going to sit in a landfill for the rest of my life. Because I really value the environment, a sustainable fashion cycle and need to clean out my closet, I will donate 5 bags of clothing to Shop for Change by March 31st, 2025!”  

Let’s break down how this is a SMART Goal: 

• Specific: Cleaning out the closet/decluttering 

• Measurable: 5 bags of clothing 

• Achievable: Observation that there are too many clothes in the closet that aren’t being worn often enough to keep.  

• Relevant: Self Values of Sustainability and Organization 

• Time-bound: March 31st, 2025 

How PRISM Can Help: Use PRISM’s resources and opportunities to set realistic, measurable goals with a clear timeline. From volunteering to donating, PRISM offers avenues for achieving meaningful progress. 

Strategy Three: Selecting a FEW Goals to Focus On 

It can be tempting to create a laundry list of changes to make in your life, but this more often than not leads to feeling overwhelmed and abandoning your resolutions all together. You are more likely to see success when selecting a few goals to focus your energy on. If you are progressing towards your goals, you will soon see how just a few meaningful changes can channel your energy into what truly fulfills you.  

How PRISM Can Help: With a wide variety of programs, PRISM helps you target specific areas of growth, such as food security, community involvement, or sustainable living. This focus ensures you make progress without feeling stretched too thin. 

Ideas for New Year’s Resolutions and How PRISM Can Support Your Success 

Working Towards a More Sustainable Future 

Sustainability is about creating a world where humans and nature coexist harmoniously over the long-term life of the planet. This concept encompasses environmental, social, and economic actions, making it a versatile goal for the New Year. 

How PRISM Can Help: 

• Shopping Sustainably at Shop for Change: Purchasing items from the Shop for Change thrift store reduces waste and overconsumption. Your purchases fund community-centric programs and services.  

• Donating to Shop for Change: By donating gently used items, you help create a sustainable cycle that supports the community and the environment. Your donations create an affordable shopping experience for all. 

• What NOT to Donate: Avoid items like old mattresses, heavily worn furniture and clothing, large electronics, baby furniture, building materials, or books. Shop for Change staff often have to pay extra to dispose of these items!  

Using Your Time to Better Lives Around You 

Investing your time in meaningful ways can strengthen your connection to your community. Advocacy and volunteer opportunities with PRISM provide avenues to support causes you’re passionate about while building impactful relationships along the way.  

How PRISM Can Help: Volunteering creates an accountable relationship where your contributions directly impact the lives of others. It’s a chance to foster a deeper sense of self and values while making a difference. Interested in volunteering at PRISM? We would love to have you! Visit our webpage to learn more about how to become a part of our organization.  

Supporting Communities 

If your schedule is tight but you still want to give back to your community – consider making one of your resolutions giving back financially. Your contributions ensure community programs like PRISM’s remain accessible and impactful. Recurring donations gives PRISM a better grasp on financial planning and operations. With automatic deductions there’s no chance of forgetting that goal! 

How PRISM Can Help: Set up recurring donations to PRISM to support their mission of food security, housing stability, and community well-being. 

Nourishing You Mind & Body: 

Personal health goals are among the most common resolutions. Whether it’s eating healthier, bettering your mental health, or achieving financial stability, PRISM offers resources to help support your journey and get you to meet those goals.  

How PRISM Can Help: 

• Marketplace Food Shelf: If healthy eating is a goal but your budget is tight, the Marketplace is a valuable resource. 

• Case Management Services: PRISM’s case managers can help you work toward financial stability, especially if you’re facing housing or food crises. 

• Volunteering: People who make time to volunteer somewhere in their life often report feeling happier, and more purposeful after dedicating their time to a cause. Make friends and do good for the community – that’s a win-win!  

PRISM is a community resource designed to support everyone in building stronger, healthier futures. 

Invest in YOU in 2025 

Setting meaningful goals is a vital part of personal growth and progress. Make 2025 the year you prioritize your well-being – whether through sustainable practices, community involvement, or nourishing your mind and body.  

You can start today by creating your own goals, or if you like PRISM’s New Year’s Resolutions, visit our website and explore the various ways PRISM helps achieve goals, building healthy, stable lives.