Happy New Year!
Goodbye 2018, hello 2019! A new year equals a new outlook. It’s the time of year for review and reflection. What did I accomplish? Where did I miss the mark? How can I make 2019 better?
Forget Resolutions – How to Make Goals Attainable
A fresh start has a way of triggering goals and resolutions. New Year’s resolutions in general don’t work very well but why? It doesn’t really matter if it’s diet, exercise, or me writing my books. Past attempts fail because generally there is something about making resolutions that isn’t fun. After all, creating a resolution means we aren’t meeting certain goals….usually difficult goals We must ask ourselves, what part of the process in reaching that goal, don’t you like? It’s pretty hard to stay committed to a purpose if you hate the process.
The trick is to find ways to make the process more enjoyable and thereby making goals attainable. For example, I discovered I hate exercise class or any kind of indoor formal setting. I love going outside and I love the variety of changing landscape. So the best way for me to keep up with regular exercise is to make sure I go outside. The outdoors keeps me distracted and even when it’s cold, that’s motivation to finish faster. There’s nothing like running in a winter wonderland among the hush of snow. Or under a changing tapestry of fall leaves.
Another great example of altering my approach: I love to write but I don’t love writing books. My book writing process takes 2 months from start to finish including proofreading, formatting for eBook consumption, creating a table of contents, among many other little details. This mammoth “process” takes me 2 months and that’s if I devote a healthy amount of time to it on a weekly basis.
However, I love writing blogs. Why would one be so different than the other? Because I can write a blog in 2-3 days and have instant gratification once its completed. When I sit down to write a book, I realize the finished product will not come for 2 months. Therefore, it’s easy to put it off.
The obstacle is completely mental as I’ve built it up in my mind. The solution is to break down the project into smaller, quick-wins. Instead of focusing on writing a book that will take 2 months of my time, I instead focus on writing a chapter. Then another chapter. And another until I’m finished. Rather than focus on the whole encompassing list of things to do which is usually quite long, I set my sights only on the task in front of me. I don’t look ahead and get psyched out by how much there is to do.
Most goals can be approached in this same way. Is there an insurmountable goal or project you’d like to tackle? Focus on breaking it down into manageable pieces. Find what makes it fun. Determine what you enjoy and then tackle it from that angle. You’re guaranteed a successful outcome!
Inspiration Only Gets You So Far
I love motivational reading – Dr Zimmermann’s Tuesday Tip is one of my favorites. But I realize that no amount of “feel good” reading is going to produce results. It’s not enough to come away inspired. You have to act. You have to be organized.
A weekly planner for the year is a great way to write down personal goals. Then take your end goal and work backwards, creating a step by step plan. You can’t get from Point A to Point Z without a structured plan in between.
Be Ready to Adapt
If the direction of your life isn’t working, change your goal. The saying goes, it’s not the destination but the journey you take. Instead of working toward an end-goal or a destination, perhaps consider choosing a journey instead. What would be an awesome journey? Maybe one that involves friends, lots of variety, and stimulating activities. Some journeys are so meaningful that people want to stay on them forever.
Yes, it’s January 1st. But you don’t need the excuse of a new year ahead to start a new venture. All you need is a dedicated spirit to your cause, a creative approach that makes it fun and a plan to get you there.
What’s Possible in 2019?
In my job as an administrative assistant, we just finished our goal review process for 2018 and started creating goals for 2019. Our leaders do a great job at making sure we are putting in stretch goals to ensure we don’t get too comfortable. That adequately takes care of my day job. But what do we do to stretch ourselves personally outside of the workplace?
Setting goals in our personal life is a great way to take charge of your future, give your life direction and give meaning to your daily grind. The truth is most of us lead such hectic lives we miss out on what is right in front of us. And it’s never too late to decide to try something new. Speaking of which….
I keep in contact with my retired high school business teacher. She moved to Des Moines 11 years ago because she wanted to be closer “where things were happening” and where she could get more involved. We get together for lunch every couple of months. Even after graduation, she remains my unofficial mentor. By the way, if you don’t have an “experienced” mentor such as this, I highly recommend getting one. She knows far more about life than I ever will.
She is the perfect example of what is possible at any stage in your life. Age is a just number. While I won’t divulge her age online, she is about to out-live my grandparents who passed away when they were her age. She is not afraid to try something new and I don’t mean joining an embroidery circle (although yes, she does that too).
We share a love of travel and learning about different cultures. She just returned from a 3-week trip in December to Patagonia and then buzzed down to Antarctica. Her husband died more than 20 years ago. But it’s never stopped her from moving to a new city, exploring new lands, or trying new things.
I will conclude this blog with a few inspirational photos here of her recent trip. Anything is possible whether you’re 25 or 85. These are things to think about as we embark on a new year. I hope 2019 is an exciting adventure for you!
Antarctica Trip taken by my mentor – Dec 2018
Moreno Glacier as seen by my mentor – Dec 2018
