How to Set Yourself Up for Success in 2022

By Dr. Jaime Kulaga

As the calendar rolls into the next year, many of us begin thinking about new goals, directions and visions for our personal and professional lives. Here are 5 ways to set yourself up for a successful new year:

1. Set SMART Goals
The acronym SMART stands for specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and time bound. When setting goals if you can make them very specific and realistic for you and your life, you will increase your chances of success.

2. Create Shorter Term Goals
While you should have a bigger vision for your life and even set a direction through 2022, this year’s challenge is to create quarterly goals. COVID taught us not only our lives, but the entire world and economy can change at any time. Having quarterly goals allows more flexibility and open-mindedness to pivot if change occurs. In addition, it will encourage you to stay more on top of your goals as you do more accountability checks on yourself throughout the year.

3. Use a Planner with Time Increments
Instead of making a to do list daily to achieve your goals, consider purchasing a planner that has 15-minute increments and stick to your time-based plan. When we have more than a list of to dos, but rather a time to do each task listed, we have less time in between tasks wandering around what to do to do next. Often, with a gap in time, people find themselves jumping on social media wasting time. Scheduling your day does not mean you never get “down time” but rather the challenge is to schedule breaks, lunches, meditations, exercise, nap, etc. The point is to not waste time wondering what to do next and to preserve your sacred time. Additionally, those things you “never” have time for, like meditation or exercise, you now can now schedule in and achieve those goals. If you are a spontaneous go with the flow person, save that for days off or weekends, that way your weeks are productive, focused and successful.

4. Find Time for Inspiration or Faith.
The past couple years have changed many aspects of life for people and some individuals have lost their inspiration or faith in life. A loss of faith, passion and or creativity can significantly impact your ability to achieve goals. 2022 is the year of bringing back faith, inspiration, gratitude and kindness. Every day, do something for at least 10 minutes to satisfy one or more of these four areas. Schedule this in your 15-minute increment planner and stick to it. Adding faith, inspiration, gratitude and kindness into your daily schedule will make your overall year more positive, fulfilling and successful.

Need some ideas to get started on adding inspiration into your life? Try some of the following:
• Read a day-by-day faith-based book first thing in the morning
• Download an inspiration app and read at least one quote per day
• Meditate
• Write in a daily gratitude journal
• Perform one random act of kindness to do daily

5. Get an Accountability Partner
This year, if you want to succeed, you need to be open to help and accountability. Over the past couple years, we have lost touch socially due to health concerns, but as we continue to rebound, bringing back relationships and inner circles will be beneficial to your success. Also, do research and seek out professionals that want to see you succeed, can motivate you and hold you accountable to the things you want to achieve.

Find people with great values, great success records and are healthy physically and mentally, and surround yourself with them. These people will help you when you are in need and motivate you when you are slipping off track.

Dr. Jaime Kulaga is The Bay Area’s Life Coach! She is a licensed mental health counselor, entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, wife and mother.

Dr. Jaime empowers people to overcome barriers, discover their own greatness, and in turn, achieve success. She educates, guides and holds accountable, women, men, adolescents and families to make better lifestyle decisions and provides practical tools for overall health and success.

Dr. Jaime is the International Author of The SuperWoman’s Guide to Super Fulfillment: Step by Step Strategies to Create Work-Life Balance. Her book was named one of the best work life balance books of all time according to Book Authority. The SuperWoman’s Guide to Super Fulfillment has been translated and published in over 15 countries over 4 continents.

When it comes to balance and happiness, Dr. Jaime is the go-to motivational speaker for companies. With her engaging personality and sense of humor, audiences are inspired to use the content in order to enhance their personal and professional lives.

Dr. Jaime is a frequent mental health expert on national TV and radio. She was featured as the lead interviewer on CNBC’s The Job Interview, as well as the spokeswoman for Wendy’s, British Airways and LaLa Yogurt Smoothies.