7 Simple Steps to Making a Change

I found this old blog in my archive of “New Year” pieces and realised it’s actually more useful as a gentle guide to change at any time of year, so I’ve updated it.

We’re often sold the idea that change happens overnight – a Monday, a birthday, a new job, the first day of a month. In reality, we’re the same person on 1 January as we were on 31 December, and most meaningful change takes longer than our culture likes to admit. Habits build over weeks and months, not in a single dramatic moment of willpower.

With that in mind, here are some refreshed tips for making sustained changes – whenever you’re starting.

1. Take a year‑long (or season‑long) view

Instead of pinning everything on one date, think about where you’d like to be by this time next year – or in 6–12 months’ time.Complete the sentence:“By the end of the next year/season, I would like to have…”

Aim for 4–8 meaningful intentions across areas that matter to you – wellbeing, relationships, learning, work, creativity, finances.

2. Check your motivation

Look at each intention and rate your motivation out of 10. If anything scores below 6, get curious:

• What would make this more compelling?

• Is this actually your goal, or someone else’s expectation?

• Is now the right time, or is it one to park for later?

  
  

You’ll give yourself a much better chance if you’re honest about what you genuinely care about.

3. Be ambitious and realistic

Consider your starting point. If you’re early in your career, becoming CEO in 12 months is unlikely; building specific skills, stepping up for a new challenge or moving into a new responsibility might be more realistic. If you’ve never exercised, a marathon in three months is a huge leap; a 5K by the summer could be a solid, motivating target.

Ask: “What’s a challenging but realistic version of this goal for me?”

4. Get it out of your head

There’s something powerful about committing goals to paper and sharing it with others

• Write them down, somewhere you can revisit.

• Consider sharing one or two with people you trust – not as a stick to beat yourself with, but as a source of encouragement and accountability.

  
  

5. Map the steps and milestones

Big changes need small steps. For each intention, sketch out:

• A rough path (the main steps).

• A couple of milestones and review points.

For example, “Run a 5K by October” might include: walking regularly for a month, then a couch‑to‑5K plan, then your first organised run. Expect setbacks. Rather than beating yourself up when you wobble, notice what got in the way and adjust.

6. Review and celebrate as you go

Check in with yourself regularly. Are you moving in the direction you hoped? Do any goals need tweaking, deleting or replacing? Life changes, so it’s okay if your priorities do too.

When you look back, don’t just scan for what you didn’t do. Notice:

• What you did achieve, planned or unplanned.

• Ways you’ve grown that you hadn’t anticipated.

Giving yourself credit builds energy for the next phase of change.

7. Consider getting some support

If you’re serious about making bigger changes – career shifts, life transitions, deep habit change – it can be extremely helpful to have a thinking partner. Working with a coach over time offers:

• Space to clarify what you really want.

• Challenge and encouragement when motivation dips.

• A structure to keep you connected to your longer‑term intentions.

  
  

Whether you do this alone, with friends or with a coach, the heart of it is the same: small, thoughtful steps, repeated over time, are what reshape a year – not one “perfect” day at the start.

If you were to choose just one area of your life to gently, steadily move forward over the next 12 months, what would you pick? And what’s one tiny step you could take this week?