How I set goals for the new year
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@ dreaming by dusk
I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. Setting an annual goal might work for some people but it has never been an easy task for me.
Whenever I made promises to myself to set annual goals, I would try my best to stay productive and follow through. But trying my best was only one part of it and it wasn’t enough.
About 3-4 months ago, I began setting monthly goals instead. Small milestones to be achieved step-by-step. I would take those monthly goals and break them down into smaller, feasible tasks; to be completed on a daily and/or weekly basis.
As I go into 2020, setting and accomplishing my goals is one of my top priorities. Why is that? Without a clear goal, I feel like I am directionless. At a risk of making a terrible metaphor, it is like a plant that needs water to not only survive, but also to thrive. Purposes, ambitions, dreams, goals. The will to achieve something can have many names. I cannot speak for everyone but when I have a goal to focus on and I achieve it, my life feels more nourished. I grow more as a person with every accomplishment.
I thought it might be fun to share how I set goals. Such as finding new ways to set my intentions and organize my thoughts. Figuring out what I want is the first step. Alongside setting my intentions, there is how to find motivation and stay focused on each task during the month. As a bonus, I also have some miscellaneous things I do that aid my goal-setting. Considering we’re entering a new year, a new decade, I figured this was the best time to share these tips.
Let’s get into them!
Setting Your Intentions
Write a list:
The first thing to do is think about all the things you want to do/achieve/have in the year. When you have thought about it, write it down on paper. Anything and everything that comes to mind. Your list might include goals you’ve had for a long time. Or you might have some goals that are in your immediate thoughts. You may also choose to categorize your list to include different categories. For example, personal, spiritual, financial, educational, physical, and emotional.
One thing I did in my own list of goals for 2020 is that I split it into 5 groups based on the things I want to focus on throughout the year. These 5 groups were my blog, my career, my creative writing, my personal life, and my health. Then I wrote a whole range of goals under each of these titles.
One thing I found great that helped me to feel centered and focused is that I wrote down my intentions for each of these 5 goal groups. I wrote small paragraphs abut why these goals mattered to me; what I sought to gain from focusing on them; how they would help me to grow.
Divide the list:
An incredibly long list of tasks can be daunting. Once you have a list of goals, there are two things you can do to stop feeling overwhelmed. First, you can divide the list into short-term and long-term goals. I describe short-term goals as tasks or activities that can be easily accomplished in a day. Long-term goals are tasks that require more time and attention. Such as daily routines or long projects.
On my own list, many short-term goals are about my blog. Things I have to finish here and there to make the website aesthetic, functional and cozy. These are tasks that could be done once a day. I put off doing them until I knew what I wanted to do next with the website. Similarly, my creative writing endeavors are long-term goals. I have to work on my current project for at least 2 months before it will be complete. I will have to dedicate myself to writing every day if possible.
Prioritize the list:
This is the part where you take the big list of goals and you choose what activities you will focus on in the month. As a general guide, choose 5-10 goals to focus on for the month. If you have a journal, write a list that fills an A5 page. You don’t have to do everything at once. You’re in charge of how many goals you want to undertake at a given time. Especially if you’re working full-time.
While I’m still job hunting after graduation, I am at the best time in my life to focus on many of my goals. I have the extra time to write, to study, to create and to grow. I know that going into 2020, some of my first goals will be focused on learning new things that will help me in my chosen career. Of course, my creative writing is ALWAYS a priority too.
Be selective about what you want to accomplish in the span of 30 days. Whatever you don’t accomplish is not a failure. The goals left unfinished can become priorities for the next month.
Finding Your Motivation
Build routines:
Another name for long-term goals – to me – is habits. Something you want to achieve over a long time is a routine. If it is something you are focusing on over several months, you should try to focus on it every day. Keep it on your mind each day. If you use a journal, set aside some pages for habit and health trackers. These pages will show where you were consistent in your long-term goal and where you need to focus more.
I know this because I’ve been inconsistent with long-term goals before. Late 2019, I started adding ‘meditation’ to my list of health trackers. But in the month, I never actually learned how to meditate. This showed me that this is an area where I am unfocused and I need to do better in 2020.
Prepare the night before:
Some people will prep breakfast meals or set out clothes the night before. Doing so creates a mindful morning routine. It also saves you a lot of time and prevents stress. When you’re unprepared and don’t know where to start, having a guideline helps to jump-start your day. Set a reminder and plan your daily goals the night before. Get the momentum building easily.
Choosing 3 daily goals is a technique I’ve learned in recent months. I will make a checklist on my phone and pick 3 things from my list of monthly goals to focus on. I check my phone and read through my 3 daily tasks each morning. As I go through my day, I check them off as I finish them. For example, one of the 3 tasks might be to study something or to write for an hour.
When you know what you want to do and how you plan to do it, you feel more motivated to work hard on something. Consider your goal preparation as a compass. It sets you on the right path every day. It keeps you grounded and determined to accomplish something new.
Reflect on any progress:
Daily, weekly, or monthly. You should take the time to reflect on the progress of your goals. Think, write or talk about your experiences, your progress and your process. Such as noteworthy setbacks and achievements. There is something to learn about your failures and successes.
When you think about your goals, you are reminding yourself of their importance to you. It is a time to congratulate yourself on what you’ve achieved so far. Even if what you’ve achieved so far is still small in comparison to what you want. It is a moment where you can have a conversation with yourself; about the mundane and the exciting.
One thing I started recording in my daily journal was my creative writing process. I would write about the current pages, the word count and the general ideas about my project. When you don’t have someone you can bounce ideas off, the best thing you can do is be your biggest supporter. This is something I always like to do and I’ve said it before.
Always be passionate:
When you do something with passion and positivity, you enjoy it more. See every task you undertake as an opportunity to do something new. You enjoy your successes more, but you also start to enjoy the process. You learn to appreciate your hard work and the action it takes to completing your goal.
I always try to bring creativity and inspiration into everything I do. Writing can be a painful process half of the time. I do it for fun because it feels like I am carrying on this age-old tradition of story-telling. There’s a certain art to creating new worlds and people. knowing that is enough to make me persevere through my writer’s block and any setbacks I experience. I keep being passionate and positive about my goal that matters the most.
Miscellaneous Tips:
Practice self-forgiveness:
Understand that there is no pressure from the outside world for you to fulfill the goals you set for yourself. Your view is the only one that matters. The only pressure you should face is the kind you place on yourself. Learn that you have the freedom to go at a comfortable pace that suits you. Encourage mindfulness in your activities and goals. There is no rush. What’s that saying? “Slow and steady wins the race”?
Be mindful on social media:
If you find yourself becoming distracted by social media, take it as a chance to reflect daily on your hard work. Write or post photos about your process and progress. Share it to Instagram, Twitter or Tumblr. You’d be amazed at how often your own productivity can inspire others. Take away the power of using social media to procrastinate. Use the platform as a break to inform about your journey.
Rearrange your space:
As an example, here are some things I do to help me focus on my daily, weekly and monthly goals. I keep my journals on the bedside table (a trolley cart essentially) with pens and markers so that when I relax and journal in bed. I place key skincare items nearest to the basin so I always remember to the basic 3 steps of my skincare routine. I lay a yoga mat on the floor so I see it every day and am reminded to do at least 10 minutes. I decorate my desk to look pretty and cozy so I’m more motivated and inspired to work there on the blog and other writing tasks.
There you have it! These are my tips on how to set your intentions and find motivation to create new goals and achieve them. Think about why you have these goals. Set them, and then continue thinking about them. Be kind to yourself and be your own cheerleader. You are responsible for inspiring optimism and creativity in your own journey. I hope you will find this post helpful. Good luck to you!
DISCLAIMER:
I am not a professional life coach or therapist. What I do have is personal experience and a deep passion for self-growth and personal development. I am not liable for how you choose to interpret, adapt and use the information in this blog post. This blog post was written to be entertaining and inspiring, and not a form of professional education or advice. Have a lovely day!
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