Happy New Year, everyone! 🎉

At Virtual Coffee this month, we start with a new challenge: New Year, New Goals! Let's start the new year with a new spirit and new goals.

Whether you want to learn dev-related things, prepare yourself to get a new job, make new habits to be a better developer, achieve personal goals, or anything you work towards this year.

During this month, we encourage you to set goals for the year and break them into achievable monthly goals.

The Goal for the Year

You can begin by defining your goals and the plan for the year. Take a moment to ask yourself:

• What do you want to achieve by the end of the year?
• Why do you want to achieve these goals?
• What steps do you need to take to achieve the goals?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you stay motivated and on track to achieving your goals.

After you know your goals and plan for the year, break them into achievable goals each month to reach your big goals.

Monthly Goals

Using the SMART method is one of the ways to provide directions that allow you to take concrete actions toward your goals.

Specific: Set a specific goal.

Measurable: Establish criteria to measure your progress in accomplishing the goals.

Achievable: Ensure that your goals are attainable with your current skills and resources.

Realistic: Your goals are possible within the time frame and with the available resources.

Time-Bound: The deadline to accomplish the goals.

Setting SMART goals gives you a higher chance of success to achieve them because they are clear and within your control.

Write Your Goals

There are many apps or free goal templates that you can find online to help you set your goals.

You can also use note tools like Google Docs or Notion or write them down on physical notebooks.

How to Participate in the Challenge

This month, at Virtual Coffee, we are teaming up with our Coffee Table Groups to support our members in setting their goals and keeping them accountable.

But we also encourage you to do it with us here on DEV! Let's start with the big goals.

DEV's New Year, New Code: #DEVResolutions2024 is a perfect place to set up your resolution for the year. You can use the provided template and drop them in the comments.

Then, you can break your big goals into monthly goals and share them with us here. Let's support each other in setting those small goals toward your big dreams! 🙌