Learn how to avoid failed resolutions and get goal setting ideas with the help of a free printable and 100 Goal Ideas for the New Year
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Goalsetting. It can be a daunting task. Some people avoid making resolutions altogether because they didn’t accomplish them in the past. If you’re looking to set goals, but don’t know where to start, I’m going to give you some hints on how to achieve them and 100 Goal Ideas for the New Year.
Deciding to Change
First, let’s be honest. January 1 is not a magical day. Neither is Monday, for that matter. The truth is you can begin where you are right now. I think humans are innately inspired by organically occurring changes, like seasons or the new year. Certainly, there is something about the newness of Spring coming and the desire to become clean and organized.
Once Fall starts, it seems like we are perpetually busy – even more than the rest of the year. It’s a constant stream of obligations, parties, and events. Therefore, finding time to create habits in an already frenzied season, is extra challenging. Many people are discouraged by that and consequently, choose to wait until the New Year to begin.
Changing Your Mindset
I read once that our brain is a recorder. It remembers how we handled commitments and resolutions in the past. If you never buckle down and finish anything, your brain remembers that and it prepares to be flaky. If you have failed at goals in the past it might be because your drive is based on motivation rather than commitment. Motivation is temporary. It fizzles out. It’s based on feelings. Commitment is different. Commitment means that you do something regardless of how you feel. It isn’t dependent upon inspiration.
That’s why keeping small commitments to yourself is so important. You may not realize it, but you are creating a habit. Following through on obligations not only builds integrity, it builds character and it creates the habit of accomplishing things. If you habitually flake out, you’re programming yourself to be a quitter. (I know that’s tough to hear, friends.) I used to have this problem. To be clear…I was lazy. I put as little effort as possible into things and I constantly backed out of obligations.
People who know me now, might find that hard to believe because I’m the exact opposite today. These days, I’m often called an “overachiever!” But that is because at the age of 23, I decided to change that deeply rooted flaw.
How To Set Goals
If you’ve ever worked in a corporate setting, you’ll often hear about the acronym S.M.A.R.T. Initially, I rolled my eyes at another corporate buzz word. But over time, I have found it to be incredibly helpful when it comes to setting goals. S.M.A.R.T. Basically asks the questions: Who? What? How? When?
Specific
Goals should be specific. Being specific helps you map out exactly how you plan to get to the desired result. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be healthy,” break down exactly what that means to you. Does it involve losing weight? If so, how much? Does it mean cutting out carbs or replacing soda for water? Maybe it means you work out 3-4 times per week. Be specific about what it is you actually want.
When I decided I wanted to be a cleaner person, I made a list of what that meant. Where was I habitually messy or lazy? For me, it meant putting things away immediately after I used it. It meant doing the dishes every night. No excuses! It meant putting my clothes strait into the hamper instead of leaving them on the floor or draped over something. What specifically do you want to change?
Measurable
Goals should be measurable. You should know when you’ve reached the end. You should also know if you are making progress. I have found the best way to do this is by writing goals down and finding someway to track progress.
First, if you have a large goal in front of you, I suggest breaking them down into smaller milestones. Secondly, consider there may be many ways to measure your progress. For example, if your goal is weight loss consider tracking inches and dress sizes as a way of measuring your progress. Some weeks the scale may not move, but your tape measure will!
Attainable
This should go without saying, but your goal should be attainable. No, I’m not trying to be a dream killer. I want you to dream big! Seriously, set your sights high! But lets be clear. Dreaming and goal-setting are not the same thing. Goal setting is about mapping out a realistic way to attain that big dream!
To clarify, let me get personal for a minute. My dream, my big dream is to grow this blog you’re reading. I want it to become my full time job! That’s good, but first I need to set some attainable goals. Subsequently, my goals should be to grow readership and commit to an editorial schedule. Goals should stretch you, but should also be within reach.
Lastly, consider obstacles. What stands in the way of obtaining your goal? Perhaps you tried before in the past. What caused you to fail before? If it’s time management, think about how you will prioritize your schedule. Create a “plan B” or give yourself options for when you get stymied. In other words, if you are prepared for obstacles beforehand, you’ll be less likely to give up when they stand in your way.
Relevant
Relevant simply means that it is germane to your overall business or life outlook. For example, if you want to live a long, active, healthy life, then fitness goals and nutrition goals are going to be a part of reaching that life aspiration. If you want a greater income, then that promotion goal is going to be necessary. In other words, look at the big picture and decide why these goals will help you create the life you want. If you don’t have a strong “why,” you are less likely to follow through to the end.
Time Bound
Finally, your goal should be bound by time. In other words, you need to give yourself a deadline. That doesn’t mean a random date. It should be carefully calculated. For example, let’s say your goal is to lose 50 pounds. To set a deadline carefully consider how many pounds you can reasonably expect to lose each week, then calculate how many weeks it will take to get to that goal.
On the other hand, you may be doing a goal only for a certain amount of time. For instance, maybe you decide to drink only water for 30 days as a detox. Similarly, you may commit to a 90-day exercise challenge. Either way, your goal should have some sort of time boundary. Even if your goal is a lifestyle change, set a time frame and once you reach it, reset the time again.
100 Goal Ideas for the New Year
Here are goal ideas. You should consider how to specificially tailor them to you. I’ve broken them into ten life categories.
Mental Health / Wellness Goals
- Address addictions (smoking, drinking, overeating, pornography, spending, social media, etc)
2. Stop negative self-talk
3. Stop procrastinating
4. Learn a new hobby or skill
5. Take a “me day” once per month
6. Start a journal
7. Take a break from social media
8. Schedule screen-free time every week
9. Go to bed at 10 p.m. every night
10. Get up before the kids everyday
Organizational Goals
11. Organize yourself with a planner
12. Donate one trash bag of decluttered items per month
13. Create a cleaning schedule
14. Figure out a system for keeping a messy area, clean
15. Create a pantry or freezer inventory
16. Keep obligations and be on time to events
17. Completely reorganize a closet
18. Create an organization system for paperwork
19. Reduce waste and disposable items in your lifestyle
20. Give everything in your home a place
Financial Goals
21. Reduce “eating out” budget by $X
22. Create and maintain a budget for 12 months
23. Reduce or pay off one of your debts
24. Save for an emergency fund
25. Track every dollar spent
26. Save for a vacation
27. Create multiple income streams
28. Create a retirement plan
29. Use cash instead of debit and credit cards
30. Reduce your student loan debt
Diet & Fitness Goals
31. Eat less fast food
32. Reduce calories
33. Exercise 3-4 times per week
34. Learn a new sport
35. Do a 30-Day diet challenge
36. Lose one dress size
37. Drink 8 glasses of water per day
38. Reduce / cut out carbohydrates
39. # of Steps per day
40. Participate in a half marathon or full marathon
Spiritual Goals
41. Make a war binder
42. Keep a gratitude journal
43. Commit to going to church every week
44. Read one Bible verse per day
45. Complete an act of kindness or service every week
46. Commit to a ministry for one year
47. Keep a positive attitude
48. Practice and make time for regular meditation or prayer
49. Make friends within the church
50. Read the bible from start to finish.
Relationship Goals
51. Have better sex / Sex more often
52. Commit to a regular date night
53. Replace couch potato time with engaging time together
54. Complete couples devotional together
55. Practice supporting your partner
56. Travel together
57. Show regular appreciation & squash out complaints
58. Focus on practicing regular forgiveness
59. Volunteer as a couple
60. Pray together
Hobby / Skill Goals
61. Learn to draw
62. Learn one new thing a day
63. Learn a new language
64. Learn woodworking
65. Complete a DIY project
66. Learn how to cook
67. Read more books
68. Learn photography
69. Learn to grow your own veggies and herbs
70. Learn an instrument
Business / Career Goals
71. Update your profile and stay active on LinkedIn
72. Produce more “x”
73. Read one business or career-related book per month
74. Create and organize your paper or digital filing system
75. Go completely paperless
76. Increase social media followers by “x” amount
77. Mentor someone
78. Learn a new aspect of your industry
79. Send thank you notes to people who help you
80. Create a healthy work/life balance
Personal Development / Psychological
81. Become more proactive
82. Stop dwelling on the past
83. Remove false / toxic friendships
84. Practice being more agreeable (getting along with others)
85. Increase confidence / self-esteem
86. Become more generous
87. Accept flaws
88. Overcome anxiety
89. Practice being slow to offend
90. Live with an attitude of forgiveness
Intellectual Goals
91. Learn a new word a day
92. Increase your IQ
93. Learn one history lesson a week
94. Improve geography skills
95. Take online classes
96. Refresh your grammar and spelling skills
97. Read a book a month / join a book club
98. Learn about a subject you’ve previously struggled in (physics, math, etc)
99. Read classic literature for one year
100. Read poetry
I sincerely hope that this post, 100 Goal Ideas for the New Year helps you slay goals. I would love to hear what your goals are for the New Year. Today, I’m including a free goal setting printable to help you. Good luck!
The post 100 Goal Ideas for the New Year first appeared on My Beautiful Mess