How I start my New Year; every year!!!

Several weeks before each new year, I sit down and reflect on the goals I wrote last year.  I determine if I reached those goals or not; were the goals attainable and were they achieved?  I have always been good at setting goals.  I’m not sure where and when I learned to set goals.   Whoever taught me, taught me well.    I was taught to always write my goals out on paper.   Also, to review my goals and plans constantly.

I always start by sitting down and jotting down what is most important to me.  This could be anything…education, spiritual level, family time, exercise program, salary increase, diet, personal enrichment…

Then I give these important titles subtitles (plans) of how I might achieve these main titles (goals).  Example:

FAMILY TIME

SUNDAY LUNCH WITH FAMILY

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER

MONTHLY BDAY BREAKFASTS

DIET

8 GLASSES OF WATER DAILY

MORE PROTEIN

MORE VEGGIES

You can even break the goal down more after writing them out in this list form.  Creating check lists to make sure you are on your way with your goals.  It’s always satisfying to see that you’re reaching goals.

If you want to succeed, you need to set goals. Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting not only allows you to take control of your life’s direction; it also provides you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually succeeding. Think about it: having a million dollars in the bank is only proof of success if one of your goals is to amass riches. If your goal is to practice acts of charity, then keeping the money for yourself is suddenly contrary to how you would define success.

To accomplish your goals, however, you need to know how to set them. You can’t simply say, “I want” and expect it to happen. Goal setting is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve, and ends with a lot of hard work to actually do it. In between, there are some very well-defined steps that transcend the specifics of each goal. Knowing these steps will allow you to formulate goals that you can accomplish.

Motivation is key to achieving goals.  Set goals that relate to the high priorities in your life. Without this type of focus, you can end up with far too many goals, leaving you too little time to devote to each one. 

Here is an example of my goals for the coming year.

Family:

Monthly Birthday Breakfasts

More Calls

Video Calls

Text Messages

Cards

Exercise:

Walk 4 x a week

Yoga 3 x a week

Diet:

More Water

Less Carbs

More Proteins

More Veggies

Vitamins & Minerals

Spiritual Being:

Online Church Living Hope

Bible Study

Brain Care:

Crosswords

Reading

Games

Rest

Relationship:

Hugging

Dates

Personal Enrichment:

Therapy

Online Support Groups

Friendship Outings

AA Meeting

Blogging

Geneology

Quilting

Social Media Club

Photography Club

Veggie, Flower & Herb Garden

Decluttering:

LEISURE:

Day Trips

Lunches

Movies

Museums

Reading

Budgeting:

Utilities

Groceries