We all have goals in the new year. But what are goals without the right motivation and wherewithal to stick to ‘em?! So, you want to get healthy, get wealthy, and keep yourself together while doing it? Same here—and we have some tips! Check out these seven ways to meet your travel assignment goals for the new year.

7 Ways to Meet Your Travel Assignment Goals for 2022

No. 1: Set realistic and manageable goals

According to recent research, only about 8 percent of people actually stick to their new year’s resolutions. I mean, it’s one thing to try to drag your holiday-cookie-lovin’-booty to the gym regularly, but it’s another to make attainable goals that work for you.

First thing to do is to make your goals realistic and possible. You have a lot of goals as a med traveler and the best way to accomplish them is to make sure they're actually doable. 

For example, maybe your goal is to work a travel assignment in New York. Start with your why. What is it about New York that appeals to you? Is it the Broadway shows, Times Square, the night life? When you know your why, you can move onto the how and make it happen. 

To help make your goal a reality, try breaking down the how into manageable steps. If your goal is to get to New York, then you first must find  a travel job in New York that appeals to you, apply for it, nail your interview, move to New York, and then start your new job. Badabing badaboom. 

No. 2: Make it a habit

Why is it so hard to stay on track? Especially with health resolutions like working out or eating better? 

"It's easy to change your attitude but difficult to change your behavior," said Christine Whelan, PhD, clinical professor in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. "If you're committed to it, however, you can make a new habit or behavior permanent."

If you’re used to late-night Taco Bell and microwavable mac and cheese lunches, your brain will fight you on your new health goal, as if the temptation wasn’t challenging enough. Sure, that heart healthy quinoa bowl looks super lame for lunch, but the best thing you can do is keep doing it. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. You can do anything for 21 days—go you!

The best way to make a new habit is to incorporate it into your lifestyle. As a traveler, you're constantly on-the-go and moving from place to place, so it's even more important that you're consistent with your behavior. This is key to integrating a new habit or routine into your daily life. We believe in you!

No. 3: Understand your investments

Think about it. Every month you put some earned money somewhere and you’re like, “Hey, where’d all my hard-earned cash go?” While some people are savvy about where they’re putting their money, some of us just sort of trust the process.

While you don’t have to know all the ins and outs of the financial world, you should at least have a bit of knowledge on what you're making as a med traveler. Since the cost of living differs state by state, your pay package could vary depending on where you work.

Even further, understanding where your money is invested, how much your credit costs each year, how Social Security is calculated, and the process of your mortgage could help you invest even smarter! 

If you need a helping hand with finances and investments, reach out to your financial advisor! We’d love to help more, but we’re not financial professionals.

No. 4: Learn to save

So, you’ve got your finances under control, but you’re still grabbing that $6 latte each morning. Hey, we all have our vices.

But learning to save doesn’t happen overnight. Start getting used to money-saving tips and tricks, if only so you are more aware of where your cash is going every week.

Now you might be sitting here thinking, "I see where you're coming from, but saving money is impossible when you have bills and student loans." And to that we say, we hear you. Luckily, there are ways to be financially savvy and still live the lifestyle you want. 

Have you never used coupons before? Try it out for a week. Are you used to the grab-and-go process at the grocery store? Start planning meals and ingredients. Track your subscription costs to movie, TV, and music apps. Maybe you don’t need an Apple Music and a Spotify Premium account.

Another way to help you save is to build a budget. Don’t worry—it doesn’t have to be fancy with allocated charts and graphs. Just make a simple list of expenses and income. Building the budget is the easy part; it’s adhering to it that takes the yearly commitment. Guaranteed if you do though, your bank account with be happier and healthier at the end of the year. And who wouldn't love that?

No. 5: Invest in storage

We all have a junk drawer (or sometimes even a junk closet, if you’re anything like me) where we throw our random knick-knacks, our seasonal décor, our laundry when we don’t want to do it, and then some.

But as a med traveler, you may not have the luxury of a drawer or closet since you move every 13 weeks or so. I’m here to let you in on an already well-known but seemingly difficult concept: Storage bins.

They may seem unnecessary, but when you're on the move as much as you are, you need mobile storage for all your things. So, take a look at your mess, assess the damage, strategize what you need, and get yourself some storage organizers.

No. 6: Use a calendar

Whether it’s in your phone or old school pen and paper, keep a calendar of all your appointments, activities, meetings, social meetups, etc. Admittedly, this is just good adulting 101. I’ve definitely forgotten dinner with a friend on more than one occasion, merely because I didn’t put it in my phone calendar. And guess what, it makes you look like a jerk. (Sorry, friends.)

You can also up your organization game by categorizing your calendars based on the type of event. Appointments, social gatherings, and work events can all be split up into different categories but kept on the same calendar for your added convenience.

You have a lot going on as a professional medical traveler. Whether you're spending your day off with fellow traveler friends or just keeping track of your shift times, calendars come in handy more than you may think. 

No 7: Take everything one week at a time

All of this is great in theory, and of course the motivation is there when you start. But by the second or third month of the year, you may get tired and fizzle out. We all want to stay on track with all of our goals, but how?

Practice self-care and take it week-by-week. Make a plan at the beginning of each week and then stick to it. Self-care means you nurture your mind, as well, and it's easier to make a plan to go to the gym three times this week than forever plan to go to the gym three times every week forever. When you plan week-by-week, you have more chances to be successful, and be your most authentic self. 

Get some financial knowledge in the noggin’, get healthy, and stick to your guns! You’ll be able to hit your goals one day at a time. Here’s to health, wealth, and keeping it all together in the new year. We believe in you!