Staying focused on our goals

We’re getting to the point of the year when those around us look back at what they’ve achieved, and this can be pretty tough if we’ve not had the best year ourselves and maybe we feel we’ve just not succeeded at what we wanted to get done. Life gets in the way and everyone has different things going on they need to contend with.

So looking ahead to what we might want to get completed next year, how can we set ourselves off on the best foot? I’ve put together some quick tips on what we can do to help ourselves stay focused on our 2026 goals.

1. Set clear goals in the first place and make sure you understand exactly how you are going achieve them. Think about S.M.A.R.T. objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Timed).
   

2. Create a routine that helps you focus. There’s no sense having a work environment that’s like a circus and juggling lots of different things all at once. Dedicate some time to what you need to do. This will help you focus and make progress.
   

3. When it comes to your actual work area, minimise distractions as much as possible. Tidy things up and make what you need easy to find. Get your phone on airplane mode and stay away from social media while you’re working. Wear headphones if you need to. Some people (myself included) find that listening to white noise helps them focus their thoughts.
   

4. Understand how your own attention works. People who have ADHD, as one example, can really struggle to stay focused, particularly if it’s something that they don’t find interesting. Do you need to take account of that and what barriers you might be facing? If so, think about how you can modify your objectives (think micro objectives) to help.
   

5. It helps to have a clear idea of what we’re aiming for. Why are you doing this? What will achieving your goals mean for you? Will it mean you have more money to spend on something in particular? Have a picture of your end goal in a prominent place so you can see what it is you’re working towards.

Five quick tips to help you get started in 2026, but make sure you have a break for the xmas holidays first!

If you’d like to work with me on your mental health, you can get in touch with me via the website or drop me a message directly at mckellarcbt@gmail.com