The New Year is here! It’s the beginning of another 365 days to do things differently. Many people focus on making resolutions for the next year while still living in the previous year. Many resolutions are created based on life changing experiences that occurred, desired goals, and the need for change in particular areas of life. They bring about a sense of hopefulness. They give people something to look forward to and work towards. They provide purpose. They allow people to reflect on past mistakes and create opportunities to correct them. Many people stick with the resolutions, others may not make it beyond January. And guess what? It’s okay. If setting and sticking to New Year’s resolutions hasn’t worked for you in the past, then it’s time to create practical goals in the present. Is this to say that one shouldn’t plan ahead? Not at all. However, it is to say that it’s okay to set practical goals (long and short term) in the present. Here’s how.
Before you begin making plans, take time to reflect on the areas of life where you want to make changes. After you’ve identified the areas, prioritize them. Decide which area in your life needs the most attention from you for improvement. Relationships, career, physical health, spiritual health, mental health, parenting. The choices are unlimited. The next thing you do is acknowledge what you desire to work on specifically from the area you’ve identified. Break down what you specifically want to improve on into four sections. Write them down, and then break down what you’ve written into daily/weekly steps. Again, be specific about what you want to improve on.
Get a personal/life planner that suits your needs and your personality. Once you’ve selected your planner, begin planning and setting weekly goals. At the end of each week, reflect on what you did right and what you want to do differently. Celebrate what you did right and write the things you want to redo as the focus for your goal for the next week. As you reflect on your redo, make sure you are honest with yourself on what needs to change so you can achieve your goal.
If setting weekly goals doesn't work for you, set day to day goals. Spend time making plans to improve on the area you’ve pinpointed and plan from day to day. If you don’t reach your daily goals, set them for the next day. Continue this until you’ve reached the goal you’ve set for yourself. Never skip over anything you’ve placed in your plan. It’s important to meet every small goal you create as each step gets you closer to the larger goal.
If planning ahead isn’t your thing, then plan for the day. Get an early start to your normal morning routine and take some time to plan and prioritize what you want to accomplish towards the area of life that you’re working on. Write down one thing you want to do and the steps you will take to get it done. Make sure the goal is attainable for that day, or the next day.
Remember:
Setting and achieving goals for the life you want is a personal journey that we often take for granted because we’re so focused on the end results. As you go through the year, make sure you are clear on what you want, create a plan to get you there and leave room for revisions every step of the way.
Liz Lampkin is a lifestyle, love and relationships writer. Follow her on social media @Liz_Lampkin