How to Create Successful Goals for 2026
- Stephanie Soto
- Dec 28, 2025
- 3 min read
We are quickly approaching a new year which means new goals. With Parkinson's disease, making goals around your health and wellness can be extremely powerful. However, some people end up giving up on their goals a few months into the year. Let's review some tips and tricks on how to create and stick with goals for 2026.
All goals should be SMART goals
S - Specific
Generic goals like "I want to be healthier" or "I want to be more active" aren't the best. When they are too generic, they are easier to give up on. Making goals that are specific helps you know what to work towards. An example of a specific goal may be "to eat more vegetables" or "to improve my endurance with walking."
M - Measurable
This is probably the most important part of the SMART goal. If we can add a measurement, we can track our progress. For example, instead of saying "eat more vegetables" say "eat 3 servings of vegetables a week." This can very easily be tracked so you know if you are making progress towards your goal.
A - Actionable
When making goals, you need to be realistic. If you are not a very active person and you make a goal to walk 10,000 steps every day for 2026, that is going to be pretty tough! Goals should be challenging, but start with smaller more achievable goals and progress to bigger ones.
T - Time
Time is typically overlooked with resolutions. Partly because we tend to give ourselves the entire year to accomplish these goals. However, try putting a time frame on these goals! If you want to be able to ride your stationary bike for 30 minutes, set a goal to complete that by 3 months, for example. That way, you can create a new goal to continue to push yourself, or reflect on why you weren't able to complete that goal within the timeframe.
Plan plan plan
Goals aren't accomplished just because we want them to be. It takes lots of planning. If you have a goal, what are you going to do each day, each week, each month to accomplish it? What happens if the weather is bad and you can't leave the house? What happens if you get sick? What happens if you feel unmotivated one day? What happens if you are experiencing specific PD symptoms? The more you plan, the more success you will have.
Don't compare
We are all on our own journey. Don't compare your health journey to others. This is never helpful and will almost always lead to negative feelings and emotions which will impact your motivation to stick with your goals.
Track don't guess
Track your goals!! It is so easy to get bogged down by every day life's challenges, but tracking your goals helps you stay on task. Put a calendar up to track days you are sticking with your goals. Have a journal to track your progress. These things really help.
Celebrate your progress and/or consistency
Small wins will snowball into big wins. Celebrating any and all wins will help keep you motivated. If you are making progress, celebrate it!! If you are not making progress but you are being consistent, celebrate that too! Consistency is just as important, maybe even more important. Consistency will help you continue to practice these healthy behaviors.
Good luck with your 2026 goals!
Help for Parkinson's is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and every dollar we receive goes directly to programs and resources that assist people with Parkinson's in living well. Our progress in such a short time is thanks to generous donations from people like you and me. If you haven't donated yet, encourage you to consider doing so. With your help, support, and participation, the Capital District. Parkinson’s community has made significant progress this past year. With the support of the Parkinson’s Community and our friends, there is still so much more we can do to help those living with this progressive disease thrive and enjoy their best possible lives!
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