As we’re approaching a new year, it’s the natural time to think about ways you want to change your life. Take some time to set measurable, attainable goals in categories such as: Spiritual, Marriage, Family, Relationships, Finances, Professional Growth, Personal Growth, Career, Physical Health, Education, Travel, and Self Care. A good place to start might be: 1. Spiritual 2. Physical 3. Relationships. As the year goes on and you start meeting your goals, you can add new categories, or more involved plans, but start simple for now.
What Will Make Your Life More Meaningful?
Start with thinking through what will make your life more meaningful and fulfilling. There are so many things we fill our time with that don’t enrich our days or help us live out our purpose. What are some things you can cut out of your schedule to make room for the things you really want to make time for? Write down your thoughts to help you keep track of your process. Doing the work to understand why you want things to be different in your life and how you’re going to accomplish them gives you something to look back at and be encouraged when you feel like giving up.
Plan to Succeed
After you’ve thought through the things you’d like to change, start a plan. One way to try is reverse engineering: you visualize the end result (in this example, what you’d like your life to look/feel like) and work backwards making smaller, bite-sized goals to move you towards your desired outcome. When you’ve figured out your first set of small goals, make sure to write them in your calendar or set alarms on your phone to help you make them a priority. Also, make appointments to revisit your goals to see how you’re doing or what might need to change to keep you on track.
Baby Steps
Remember that changing habits is hard; have some grace with yourself. It’s easy to want to just give up when you find sticking to your plan is harder than you imagined. Don’t- get back to the plan immediately. Have you ever said to yourself, “I’ll start again Monday”? Try this instead: “I’m getting back on track right this minute.” This saves you from more guilt about going off the rails and starts to change the way you think about yourself when you make mistakes or forget about your goals. Set up ways ahead of time to reward yourself for whatever progress you’ve made, and then have plans for bigger rewards when you meet goals or make great choices.
Ask For Help
There’s no shortage of books, blogs, apps- you name it- to help you set, track, and learn about goals. Find some resources to support you in your plans, and don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend for advice or accountability. Having support from people you love can make all the difference in meeting your goals!
What plans do you have in place to make 2022 your best year yet?
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