It’s so crazy that 2020 is just around the corner! I love the start of a new year because it feels like a fresh start with new opportunities and possibilities. Keep reading to see my goal-setting process, how to deal with procrastination and lack of motivation, and how I organize myself to have my best year possible.
As I get closer to a new year, I really enjoy spending some time thinking about what I want to achieve, and how I want my life to be different. But you don’t need to wait for January 1st to make positive changes; you can start at any time! Here’s how I start planning for the new year and some things to consider when planning your best year:
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR
I start out by brainstorming what goals I want to achieve in the year. I like to visualize what the next year could look like, and then write down the goals I want to accomplish. I usually write out my plans to help me visualize it more clearly, and to actually see what’s going on. I feel like this step can be hard sometimes. Maybe there’s a lot happening right now, and you can’t get yourself to think about goals for the future.
To combat that kind of thought-paralysis, consider thinking about things in smaller bites. Think about what can help your life today, or what you wish was different right now, and work your way into finding a solution for just that one thing. Talking things through with friends or family can help you reach a solution; try not to be overwhelmed.
Organize your thoughts on your phone or in a notebook. Having a goal in mind will help you to map out a plan to achieve it. I prefer writing my goals down because I feel like putting pen to paper really solidifies it in my mind and puts it out into the world.
HOW CAN YOU REACH YOUR GOALS?
Each goal is going to be different, but you will still need to think about the steps that should happen in order for you to reach it. You can’t just say, “I’m going to pay off my car loan this year” without considering your budget, or how you’ll make the payment.
A huge reason that I’ve been successful in reaching goals I’ve set, is I try to get specific with my game plan. I will set mini goals for myself that all work together to reach that bigger main goal. So if you want to pay off your car loan, maybe you then set some mini goals for yourself — “spend less eating out, so I can put an extra $50 toward my car loan this month”, or “start selling on eBay and put that extra money toward the loan”. The more specific and realistic you are about your goals and how to achieve them, the more successful you’ll be.
DON’T WAIT; START TODAY
Everyone knows that the new year is full of resolutions and new goals, but why not get a head start on all of that, and start today. What’s stopping you? If your goal is to lose weight, why not get a jump on all the resolutions and start now. If you have a goal, and you have a plan to achieve it, start as soon as you can.
Procrastination and indecision are the worst. When you fail to make a choice or don’t confront your problems, they only get worse. Your inaction is a decision, and usually not the best one. Don’t let things happen to you; choose how you want your life to be. Choose to live your best life.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
It can be hard to stick to a goal or feel the motivation to keep at it when it seems so far off. You just have to remind yourself what is truly important to you. You made this goal for a reason — why do you want to meet this goal? How will you feel when you achieve it? Keep that feeling in the forefront of your mind and try to hold on to it. Your future self will thank you!
MAPPING OUT MY GOALS
Like I mentioned, I really prefer to write my goals down — that way I can see them, and evaluate. Once I feel good about my goals for the year, I like to write them down in my planner. To me, writing it in my planner means that I am committed to this goal. I use my planner daily, so having a goal in there to constantly remind me is serious business.
HOW I STAY ON TRACK
Every week, I take some time to sit down and plan out my week. I really love this time for myself to re-center and focus on what I am trying to achieve. To help me stick to my goals, I prioritize my goals first, then plan everything else around that.
Don’t feel obligated to say ‘yes’ to everything; you don’t need to “do it all”. I used to feel bad about declining invitations or choosing not to participate in events, but I’ve never been more content. I choose to do things that make me happy and spend time with people who add to my life. When you are full emotionally and mentally, then you have the ability to give to others.
Throughout the week, I’ll check in with myself and make sure that I’m making progress towards my goals. It’s easier to stay on course because I prioritized my goals in the beginning. I really get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction by checking through my list or crossing off a task. Celebrate your little wins by tracking your progress.
I track all of my goals, and basically everything else in my Erin Condren Life Planner. I definitely recommend their planners and have been using them for years. Right now, they’re having a Black Friday sale and everything is 30% off when you use code BlackFriday19. The planners can be a little pricey, so now is a great time to see if they would work for you. I feel like having a special planner really makes goal setting and tracking so much easier.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Setting goals and working toward them is a really personal thing. Make sure to go easy on yourself if things don’t go as planned, but don’t quit on making your goals a reality.
PS: The Black Friday code works on the Focused by Erin Condren site too. I just bought the Focused A5 planner, and the Large Focused Planner. I plan on using one for my knitting projects and ideas, and the other to help me learn Spanish. The Focused planners are more minimalist, so check them out if that’s more your style.
