3 tips on defining and achieving goals
2021…already most of the way through February. Times are…well, not good. There is stress, tension, and a general uneasiness in the air. Being an introvert, I’d love to become a hermit and just forget the rest of this messed up world exists, but of course that is not an option. With that said, how in the world can we be positive and put in place goals for our future in such an environment?
I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions. Easy to make; easier to break. I want to put reflection into the upcoming year, what it is I really want to accomplish, what will increase my well-being and how reality will play into those accomplishments. I also want the flexibility to change my goals as the year progresses and life changes. Giving myself this flexibility, also keeps me from feeling failure or guilt. Here are some tips on looking forward to the year ahead.
#1: Make attainable goals that you that you will actually be able to achieve
Let’s say you want to make sure that you are reading regularly throughout the year (my favorite thing to do!). A goal of 12 books in the upcoming year would be an easy one to make but if you already read a book a month, it doesn’t mean much. However, if you only have limited time to fit in reading leisure time, don’t set a goal of reading 24 books if you don’t even have time to get through 1 book a month. Make a goal that you know you can achieve with some discipline but not one that will take excessive effort.
#2: Reflect on what your end goal really is and why it’s important to you
Many resolutions are made because that’s what you are supposed to do, right? And those resolutions tend to be the generic “usual ones”, not really too personal. So before you just blindly set a goal, sit down and make a list about it, chew it over, and ponder it.
- Why is this goal important to you? Not to your mom or dad, or significant other…YOU.
- What is causing you to not be where you want to be in the first place? Is this something that can be changed, addressed, dealt with so that you have positive outcomes along the journey toward your goal?
- Is your goal realistic and maintainable?
#3: Revisit your goals monthly or at least every three months. Change them, revise them, measure them and keep a journal.
If you start off on a journey with no plan on how to achieve it, failure is definitely in your future. If you don’t measure where you are on your journey, and recognize changes that may be needed to your goal(s), the goal will mean less to you and achieving it will not seem as pertinent. Once you reflect on your goal, make sure you document where you started and where you are now. How did it feel getting to this point? Were there challenges? How do you feel about the goal now? Is it still important to you or does it need tweaking now? What are the obstacles you’ve run into? How can you overcome them?
Remember to give yourself credit for each achievement, and don’t beat yourself up for any “failures”. Don’t be afraid to make changes to your goals, because things change constantly in this big ole world! Now, go for it!
Very good! Easy read with excellent points!