New Year’s Goal Setting
As the year winds down and we begin to reflect on the previous year, we look forward to the hope and possibilities that a fresh new year offers. Instead of the usual trap of setting a resolution to do more or less of an activity for self-improvement self only to then be guilt-ridden by February when the shiny new resolution doesn’t “stick”, I challenge you to set goals for the new year.
Why Goals Over Resolutions?
Resolutions are statements or the abandonment of an activity altogether to make improvements to an aspect of your life. These might include –
· Habit cessation – stopping drinking, smoking, dieting, etc
· “I should exercise more to lose weight”
· “I will spend less money”
While all of these resolutions are worthwhile, they focus on a negative aspect of you. Goals, on the other hand, turn these statements around to provide self-reflection and break them down into manageable and measurable steps that will make them more attainable.
Steps to Setting and Achieving Your Goals
1. Reflection. Think about what your passions are and what aspects of your life you would like to see improvement. These might be the professional, spiritual, personal, or emotional areas of your life. The goals you set for the new year should have meaning to you for without meaning, you will be unlikely to achieve them.
2. SMART. You can use this acronym to set your goals –
Specific: The goals you set should answer the questions of what you want to accomplish and why achieving them are important to you.
Measurable: Determine how you will quantify your goal so that you can track and measure your success throughout the year.
Achievable. No goal is too big or lofty to be accomplished. Breaking down the biggest goals into smaller chunks and then starting with a single step will set you up for success.
Relevance. Why is this goal important to you? Is it relevant to your life right now?
Time. Set a deadline for accomplishment. Deadlines provide a motivation to act.
Example SMART goal: I will walk or run most days of the week (achievable) to train for a 5K race (specific and measurable) in March (time) and in time for my next wellness exam (relevance).
3. Visualization. Post your goals where you can see them every day. Jotting them down in a journal and then closing the cover, creates the “out of sight, out of mind” scenario. Seeing them regularly on a vision board will keep them front and center and top of your mind. Visualizing yourself reaching the goal will make an impact and help keep moving you forward.
4. Share. Tell your spouse or friend about your goals. Sharing them with people who care about you will help to hold you accountable as they will inevitably ask where you are on your goal’s progress.
5. Flexibility. Sometimes our goals may become irrelevant. If that happens, it is absolutely okay to abandon those goals and set new ones or tweak the goals to make them relevant.
Create a Personal Development Plan
A development plan is the foundation of your future planning process.
Rather than frivolously chancing time and money on what may/or may not be a useful learning experience, the development plan gives you the opportunity to set objectives that will ensure your progress toward your goal; and ensure that you realize the fullness of your potential.
Download the Personal Development Plan created by Coach B. Von and get started on planning your magnificent and abundant future today!
