Ready. Set. GOALS!

It is 2021! I know a lot of people have been waiting for 2020 to end. However, the pains from 2020 haven’t just vanished. The new year didn’t flip a switch and erase everything we had to struggle with in the last 12 months. We are still in a pandemic, the country is still “divided”, and you are still who you were yesterday. But, it is a new year and a new chance to “start over”, in a sense.

I made a list of goals, last year, that I wanted to accomplish in 2020 and guess what? I actually achieved them! A lot of people start of the year with resolutions, but do not follow through. Here are some ways I kept myself accountable for my goals in 2020 and plan to do the same this year!

WRITE IT DOWN

There were a few rough drafts, but once I finalized my list I made sure it was written out so I could look at it anytime I needed a reminder. You can tape your list on your mirror or keep it next to your bed. You can keep it in your wallet or a notepad on your phone. It doesn’t matter where you keep it just get it out there! If you have it to look at from time to time, it will help keep you motivated.

ACHIEVABLE DREAMS

My absolute favorite quote is from a Nicholas Sparks novel. I don’t know why, but it has always stuck with me. “The goal to happiness is achievable dreams”. Now, I know some people have crazy dreams and they accomplish them. If they didn’t we would have actors, musicians, athletes, etc.. BUT, they all started somewhere. Maybe as a kid their goal was to join a theater club, then to get a part in the school play, then to be a main character. Maybe they made a goal to join the football team, then to score so many touch downs a season, to throw a certain amount of yards, to be scouted by a certain school. They didn’t just wake up one day signed to the NFL. You have to start somewhere. So, make a goal for the year that you think you can achieve and keep growing. For example I want to start meditating this year. I know some people meditate for 30 minutes or more. I doubt I can achieve that daily. So, my goal is to start with 5 minutes 4-5 days a week and go from there.

BREAK IT DOWN

When I started with the company I am currently working for I started in basic customer service. The entry level position. When I started I said my goal was to make it to a director position. Guess what, it took me 10 years, but I made it. Each year I made a goal and planned out my next goal to help get me to that overall goal. I figured out what departments and positions I wanted to learn in order to get me to the level I wanted to achieve. This year one of my goals was to lose the baby weight from my last pregnancy. I broke that down into a goal for each month. I figured out what a healthy weight loss was per week and went from there. This year I want to complete a monthly workout challenge. So, I already have those monthly challenges outlined for the whole year and written down.

MIX IT UP

I don’t just focus on one goal in one part of my life. I have a goal for my health and wellness, one financial, a personal goal and one for fun. You can have an unlimited amount of goals, but I have found focusing on 3-4 specific overall goals for the year has helped me to actually achieve those goals. That’s not to say you cannot work on more and actually reach those goals.

SHARE YOUR GOALS

Last year I wanted to eat better and exercise. My husband helped me stay motivated. I wanted to do a photo challenge, so I created a group and made a list of daily ideas and others posted their images as well. It kept me engaged and remined me to keep working on my editing skills. I didn’t post every day, because, well….life. But, even if I didn’t post to the group I still made sure I took a picture and did some editing each day at home. This year I created a wellness group to invite others to do the monthly workout challenges I have planned out to keep me motivated. Also, it is FUN to get others involved! And who knows, maybe your goals will inspire others!

I hope every has an amazing 2021, even if it isn’t exactly what we hoped for.