How to Set Achievable Goals for the New Year, According to Mady Dewey

The 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie’s newest installment of ‘Dews and Don’ts’ comes just in time for goal-setting season.

Mady Dewey was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico.Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Welcome to Dews & Don’ts, where Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Mady Dewey shares stories and lessons she’s learned navigating her relationships, career and well-being in her twenties. New stories release twice a month on Wednesdays.

New Years resolution season is almost upon us, meaning that, in this week’s iteration of Dews and Don’ts, Mady Dewey is walking us through achievable goal-setting measures.

When it comes to setting goals for the year ahead, the savvy businesswoman treats it like she would her work with startups. According to Dewey, she hasn’t always been the best at setting New Year’s resolutions. But all of that changed when she started “approaching it like I approach my planning for work,” she explains.

Her shifting mindset has allowed her to develop advice for herself—and others—to make her resolutions achievable. Here are Dewey’s top three pieces of advice for approaching goal-setting.

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Do (Dew) set quarterly goals

One thing that tends to prevent us from achieving what we set out to do is planning too far ahead. Rather than setting yearly goals, the 27-year-old suggests setting quarterly ones instead, making your aspirations much more digestible.

“Things are going to change as you continue to live life,” she explains of her mentality. “So, planning three months in advance and using what you just learned from the last three months is a way better way to actually stay on track with your goals.”

Do (Dew) make your goals SMART

SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

For example, “instead of saying, ‘I want to see my friends more,’ just change it to, ‘I want to see my friends at least one time a week over the next three months,’” she encourages. By making SMART goals, you are more likely to implement them into your daily life.

Mady Dewey during 2023 Miami Swim Week.

Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

Don’t try to tackle too much at once

When it comes to setting and achieving goals, “momentum is your friend," according to Dewey. It’s easy to become overwhelmed—so much so that fulfilling your goals becomes impossible—when you set too many at once.

“You don’t want to be overwhelmed by your goals,” she says. “These are things that are supposed to be making you happier, healthier, a better version of yourself.”

Start with one or two, then build upon those from there.

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