Happy 2025! It’s crazy to think another year has come and gone, and that we’re back in January when everyone makes these crazy resolutions that last for maybe three weeks and then are forgotten. It happens every year, but why?
My guess is that these resolutions are usually too large, unrealistic, and create unusual or even disruptive patterns compared to what was considered “normal” before the goal was set (for example, if someone decides to get in shape but has never visited a gym before, that can be quite a change of pace compared to their normal lifestyle habits). But what if we spent some time first reflecting on and celebrating our progress from 2024 before taking the time to think about S.M.A.R.T. goals? What if we used our accomplishments as motivation?
For example, maybe you learned a really hard piece last year that you poured a lot of energy and effort into. Perhaps you grew your private studio, played more gigs, finished a degree, passed your classes, took better care of yourself, or paid off some debt. Maybe you learned the power of the word “no,” picked up a new hobby, invested in a relationship, or created some boundaries – these are certainly things worth celebrating as well! As you start to think about goals for the new year, use these moments as motivation!
If you aren’t familiar with the S.M.A.R.T. acronym when it comes to goal-setting, it stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Whatever goal you set (musical or otherwise), make sure it can fit in each of these categories, and develop a detailed plan for how you will achieve it. Set a manageable pace that you can sustain for a long period of time – don’t let the excitement of the goal itself cause you to make one that is not attainable. Also, set smaller goals within your larger goal to keep you on track. For example, if you want to grow your studio by “x” students by December, perhaps your smaller goal is to recruit “x” students every month.
Put your goals somewhere where you will see them regularly, whether it’s a permanent notification on your phone, a sticky note on your fridge or mirror, or someplace else. I also recommend notifying close friends and/or family members of your aspirations and asking them to be your accountability partner(s). Commit to updating them about your progress regularly so they can help push you but also celebrate with you when you reach one of your mini-milestones!
Some final thoughts:
- I’ve already mentioned this, but I think it’s really important to spend time thinking about your goals before you make them. Make sure those are really your goals, not your teacher’s goals, society’s goals, or somebody else’s goals for you. If it’s not something you really want to do, motivation will be a problem.
- Remember your goals don’t have to be practice room-related! A lot of musicians opt for the “100 days of practice” challenge at the beginning of the year, but that doesn’t mean you have to! Your music-related goals could be to use a metronome more, to learn “x” number of new pieces, to collaborate more regularly, or to listen to new genres. Think outside the box!
- Be kind to yourself. It’s OKAY if you don’t reach your goals – don’t lose sleep over it or beat yourself up about it. Rather, reflect on what part of your goal didn’t fit within the S.M.A.R.T. acronym and adopt a growth mindset over a victim mindset. Remember to celebrate the little wins!
With all that in mind, happy goal-setting for 2025! If you have any other thoughts about resolutions or want to share your goals, leave a comment below!
