Happy New Year!

 

Steamy cup of coffee check, cozy blanket, notebook and pen check. It’s a new year and it’s time to set new goals. I start this process  in December. First, I review my goals for the year and reflect on what went well and what needs improvement. Then I take that feedback and use it to set the goals for the following year.  What about you? Do you set your goals in the late days of December or in January? 

How do you go about it? First step is to keep the goals short and simple. I use different guides that target different areas of life such as health, parental, marital, spiritual, career, financial, social aspects not forgetting hobbies as well.  I assess each area carefully  then write 2-3 priority goals and the reason WHY those goals need to be achieved. Second step is to categorize your goals. I categorize the goals and choose 2-3 main goals for every 90 days. That way I have a clear sense of what needs to be done weekly to achieve the goals,  instead of juggling so many goals and getting lost in the midst of it all. 

Last but not least, I do a weekly review and set the next steps to achieve the 3 main goals that I’m working on and repeat the process every 90 days. 

Here are some few tips I’d like to share with you. 

1. Know the importance of the goal to you. Knowing the WHY  to your goal will add value to you in the long run is important and is a good motivating factor.
2. Goal setting is not only about what you need to start doing but what you  need to stop doing. Don’t be in a rush to set new goals. Always find time to reflect on the goals you set the previous year and find out what you need to do more and what you need to do less. 
3. Don’t give up- Remember to be kind to yourself on days where you feel like no progress is being made and instead of beating yourself up consider why the goal is frustrating you so much and why it is currently not within your reach. 
4. Break down the goals into smaller parts, come up with a list of 3 steps  or habits  to help align you towards achieving your goals. Hence the weekly 3 review is important.
5. Quarterly review : review goals and set the next2-  3 goals to focus on.  

It is also important to set SMARTER  goals. Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Risky, Time bound, Exciting and Relevant.  For each goal that you set DON’T chase other people’s dreams with the hope that it will work out. Goals should neither be complicated nor delusional. It is also important to realize that goals can change. Don’t beat yourself up if 6 months down the line your goals are not amounting to anything. Think and strategize. As I said earlier on in the blog, Find out what you need to do more and what you need to do less!