Podcast: Reflect and set realistic goals heading into 2024

It's only natural to reflect on your achievements, failures and dreams as we bid a year goodbye. But an expert reminds us not to be too harsh on ourselves as we set goals moving forward

December marks a time of festivity and gratitude, however, for most it is also a time of reflection where you take the time to look back at a year and evaluate what you have achieved and where you find yourself. This evaluation can either leave one satisfied and hopeful for the next year or disappointed at goals not being met. To move forward, you need tools and methods to enable and facilitate a healthy reflection and planning process for the current and following year.

The vibrant and energetic Lesego Legodi, who is a life coach and reading therapist based in Pretoria, joins this podcast to give more information on these tools.

Legodi says when formulating your goals it is crucial to consider and do the following:

Write goals down to keep track and ensure accountability.
Goals are personal, meaning that they are unique to your environment and what you have access to.
Consider time as a factor in achieving goals.
Look at group goals in different components of life (e.g. family, financial, spiritual).
Keep goals simple and at a minimum to set yourself up for success. Avoid trying to set out too many goals.

Formulation of goals is one thing, however, when faced with failure to achieve these goals it is easy to experience emotions of inadequacy and disappointment.

Legodi adds that shame can also be an occurring feeling as a result of failure. That’s why it’s important to avoid getting stuck in shame and disappointment.

In the podcast, she suggests steps to process the failure and also sees it as an opportunity to perhaps adapt or change.