With only 100 days to go until the end of 2009, it's a good time to review our new years goals and how many we've completed. There is something special about the concept of being able to start afresh that motivates us to pause and reflect on our lives and what we would like to change. The problem though is that most of our goals get abandoned or forgotten just a short time into the year. Does this happen to you?

But don't worry. You can actually set goals any time of the year. The important point to remember is to pick realistic goals that will bring you value in your life. These 5 steps should help get you on the right track for the rest of the year.

1. Start with a vision: How can you identify which areas of your life need to be improved on if you don't know what you want your future to look like? Spend some time TODAY reflecting on what is good, bad or incomplete in your life. Then try to visualise your life if all of these areas are perfect.

2. Set challenging but realistic goals: Choose goals that stretch your ability, but are still realistic and therefore achievable. Concentrate on what you honestly desire for your life and let this be your guide. Set appropriate and healthy limits in all areas of your life. Knowing your limits and enforcing them is a prerequisite to a healthy life and relationship.

Expand your horizons and make a commitment to learn something new. Challenging yourself will help build self-esteem as you realize what you can achieve. Learning new skills will also give you additional resources to help in your career and personal life.

3. Write them down: Write your goals down and put them somewhere you know you'll be able to read them regularly. Create action steps for each goal and write these down too, and keep an account of your progress for each task.

A goal without an action plan is destined for failure. Break each goal down into small tasks}. Set a date for completion to make sure you follow through. Make sure you check off each accomplishment as you go and be flexible and willing to make adjustments in your action plan as required.

4. Get organized: Get rid of the clutter. Sort through paperwork, files, old bills and receipts, cupboards, draws and storage boxes. Decide what you really need and get rid of the rest. Put aside some time each week for this task. After you have cleared out the clutter you can think about your existing systems of storage and filing, and see if these need reworking to make your life more efficient. Keep a calendar to record all appointments and events. Write everything down rather than relying on your memory.

5. Eliminate bad habits: And develop some good ones. Bad habits will sabotage your efforts and consume your valuable time, energy and focus. For each bad habit you decide to eliminate, have a good habit in mind to replace it.

So take the bull by the horns and start setting goals TODAY. After all, today is the first day of the rest of your life and there is no better time to start.