Goals for the New Year
January has come and gone and now it’s that time of year where everyone makes New Year’s resolutions. How many of us have made resolutions and found ourselves never sticking with it? Well, I think it is safe to say that we have all been there… including me.
Every year I come up with goals that I never always seem to finish. This year, I decided to try a new approach to setting goals. One great advice that was given to me by my best friend was to not make a long list of goals. She said that will just drive you nuts. Instead, make one goal to work on. While, watching the news one day, I heard another piece of advice. Set smaller goals throughout the year. Setting smaller goals are a lot easier to accomplish. You are more likely to complete that goal, rather than a goal that is too enormous.
Why I love to set goals:
I am someone who likes to be organized but struggles with staying organized. I like setting goals because they help me to be accountable for things. I feel more organized when I have a particular goal in mind. It also gives me something to look forward too. Goals can also teach you something.
I am the type of person who has always had to work hard in life. I have a learning disability so things like learning in school were always difficult for me. I always had to write stuff down. When I took notes in school, I would write down every little detail the teacher was explaining. In math, I wrote down every single step that the teacher explained to the class.
I set goals because it helps my brain. Writing things down on paper keep me accountable for the some of the simplest every day task.
Every year during the Easter season we have Lent in the Catholic Church. Lent is a great time of year to make a goal and stick with it. Lent, last only a month during the Easter season. If you can survive one month of not eating chocolate, then I think you are okay. My grandma used to give up chocolate during lent. Lent is actually a great time of year to set a goal, stick with it and see if you can continue the rest of the year with that Lenten promise. A few years ago, I made a promise during lent that I actually stuck with. Today, I still think about that promise and how I view lent.
How to set goals and stick with them:
- Make realistic goals.
- Set smaller goals instead of larger ones.
- Set your goals throughout the year.
- Use the beginning of the year or lent as your starting point (if you are religious).
- Write your goals down on paper or in your electronic device.
- View your goals the following year to see if you completed the ones from the previous year.
- Have faith!
Don’t let goals weight you down. It’s easy during the yew year, to feel as if you must accomplish every new goal you set. Goals help you to stay organized. Goals don’t have to be so serious either. Sometimes, setting a fun goal for yourself can be just as rewarding. It’s okay if you realistically don’t meet all your goals.
