A new year brings possibilities of new beginnings and opportunities. However, several of us are uncomfortable committing to resolutions due to unaccomplished ones from New Year’s past.
Don’t let that get you down. You’re better than that. Those unfulfilled resolutions are behind you. This is your time to start fresh and experience a year filled with exciting projects and opportunities. This time around let’s focus on developing your resolutions effectively.
If you’re expecting big changes in 2016, resolutions are a critical tool. Whether you call them resolutions, goals or intentions they will help you focus and achieve what you want.
Here are 10 ways you can develop effective goals to have the best year yet:
- Audit your current situation. Take a hard look at your current situation: habits, finances, personal life, career, and health and write down what is working for you and what isn’t. Remember, be honest with yourself.
- Know your end game. Ask yourself where you want to be in 5 years. Write all of your aspirations down focusing on things that make you fulfilled and happy. Your end game should scare but excite you.
- Fill in the gaps. Now take both lists—where you are now and where you want to go and write down all the things you need to do to get to point A to point B. Don’t over or under estimate the amount of time or resources your goals will take.
- Set your resolutions. Now that you have your list of things to accomplish, figure out what you need to start doing this year. Don’t pack all your resolutions into one year—that’s a recipe for failure. Instead start small to build momentum.
- Edit and prioritize. Edit, edit and edit again until you have a list of resolutions that are achievable and “makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning.”- unknown
- Chip away at them by quarters. By setting smaller goals each quarter you won’t feel overwhelmed, and they are much easier to track and measure.
- Shout from the rooftops. Now that you have your plan be proud of them and wear them on your sleeve, literally. I write my goals on a poster board in front of my bed. It’s the first thing I see in the morning and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. I tell my inner circle about them, too. They will keep me accountable.
- Celebrate your wins. As you go along and start crossing off your goals, make sure to celebrate them. Be present with the process and savour every success. It will give you incentive to keep going.
- Adapt and pivot. And if you are not meeting some of your goals maybe they weren’t truly a priority. Or timing was off or you didn’t set aside sufficient resources. That’s okay. Recognize the reasons why you aren’t meeting your goals and adapt. Maybe you need to adjust your plan or pivot altogether. Not all is lost.
- Keep going. Life is unpredictable—no matter how much we plan, unexpected opportunities and failures will happen. Just remember, “strive for progress not perfection.”- unknown
Last words: “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” – Nora Roberts.
Wishing you all the best for 2016!
Mishka Alarcon 