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
