7 Tips for Setting Goals in the year of 2020 and beyond
Many of us go into the new year setting the inevitable new years’ goals whether they be professional, personal, physical, spiritual, etc… As years come and go some of us are able to complete all the various goals, we have set for ourselves and others may only complete some of the goals they seek to accomplish. I have compiled a list below of 7 things you can do if you are going into the new year stressing over completing certain or more difficult goals. Keep in mind these are in no particular order.
1) Being realistic with your expectations of self
It is important to strive for peak efficiency and performance in obtaining the goals you have set for yourself. Where it can become problematic is when you try folding yourself into a pretzel or run yourself thin trying to complete goals. When you are envisioning what you want to do this year, make the goals you have realistic and don’t burn yourself out trying to do too much at once, pace yourself!
2) Make a list of it
If you want to truly be committed to achieving your goals this year, don’t just live with it in your head, make a list! Writing down a thorough and well thought out list of things you want to accomplish in your life for the year will set the tone for the year. Creating detailed lists of specifics of what you seek out to do and setting time frames for yourself is key in sticking to your goals. Even creating pros and cons lists can help aid you in creating transparent goals so you know what to expect from yourself as you focus on set goals.
3) Have patience and faith in the work that you are doing
Sometimes its not easy to see down the line as you seek out certain goals you have set for yourself. You can get in your head about it and start to become pessimistic or have self-doubt about what it is that you are doing. There is that saying that gets thrown around a lot, “do your best and forget the rest.”
There is truth to that quote as we all have to realize sometimes that we need to be confident and trusting in our own abilities to do what we need to do for ourselves. As long as you are taking the necessary steps to attain what you seek, have confidence in the moves you are making to get there!
4) That good ol’ support system
when you are making major changes to your life or pushing yourself to reach new heights, its always a great thing to have someone there who not only supports your grandest goals and dreams but also somebody that will be able to hold you accountable. We as human beings have our capacity for distraction and can slip off the rails from time to time. Find that one family member, friend or if you have a significant other to hold you accountable when you inevitably get distracted or are not putting the same level of quality into a given goal.
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”
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5) It may sound cliché, but self-care is very important
When you are living by the guidelines you have committed yourself to for the year you will undoubtedly become fatigued and drained on reserves at some point. You have to remember you already have professional and personal goals you have to maintain week to week but adding a host of other significant goals for the year will be a difficult task(s) to complete. It’s important to realize that you do need to make sure you are getting an adequate amount of sleep, eating healthy, exercise of some sort, spending time with family/friends and doing other hobbies or things you find fulfillment in. It’s ok to take a break every now and again. You are not a machine.
What you are is human! Take the time to take care of your mind, body and overall wellness. Even for us perfectionists and overachievers! Remember you will feel much better about what you are doing when you have stuck a healthy balance in your daily life. Work hard, self – care harder!
6) Have a knack for Networking & Communication
Sometimes when you are setting or in the process of setting big goals you can find yourself hitting a wall from time to time. You may want to remain completely autonomous and independent of your endeavors but networking and/or communicating with others who share similar passions. Connecting with those who have either accomplished what you are setting to do or are in a similar process as you. This can help expand or fundamentally broaden your goals and get you to think in new directions as to how to achieve them. Bouncing ideas off of others can help you determine what it will ultimately take for you to get where you want to get.
Speak to that friend, CEO, business owner or take a class, training or go to a seminar or networking event. Connecting with others is a major key to success.
7) Don’t get discouraged if things change along the way
Often times in life, we will find ourselves passionate about a particular thing or another and devote ourselves to accomplishing it whether by conventional or unconventional means. Sometimes even after we achieve a goal and time has set in we might decide that we are no longer passionate about the thing we achieved and decide to move on to something else entirely. It’s important to remember that when we start things we don’t always know that they will last for the rest of our lives. As people we grow, change, mature and evolve over time. How your life looks at 25 may not be how your life looks at 35 or 45 and so on.
As human beings, we are complex creatures and there is no telling what new adventures or endeavors may come into your journey in life. If something you were initially passionate about starts to fade over time, take time to reflect and examine why. Talk to a friend, family member, your significant other or even a professional to assess that you have done all that you can with something. If you decide to leave something behind at lease you can say you explored in – depth as to why. This will decrease or eliminate any discouragement and help you to move on from it to any new goals you decide to set for yourself.
