Setting And Accomplishing Goals
Well, it’s that time of year again. Even if you don’t believe in making New Year’s resolutions, it is essential to consider some of the best ways to set and accomplish what you aim to complete with the intention of bettering yourself. Estimates show that roughly 60% of people set New Year’s resolutions, and only about 8% achieve them. In addition, research indicates generationally speaking, the younger you are, the more likely you are to accomplish your resolution. Make 2021 the year that you prove the statistics wrong. In this blog, I’ll discuss steps and strategies to set your aims and prevention methods, so you do not undermine your strivings.
The first and most crucial aspect of accomplishing a goal is to consider who it is that you would like to be. What you would like to be is a consideration of elevating your sense of self or identity. By this, I mean I would like you to think about your destination a bit more abstractly as opposed to something concrete (ex. commonly, you may hear, “I want to lose weight”). The goal needs to include your “why.” Your “why” needs to incorporate how your goal will help make you a better person. So, adding to the example provided above, an abstract version of this could look like “I want to live a long healthy life.” Being a healthy person is a part of your self and your identity. There is a direct purpose that accompanies your statement too. It would help if you considered what is realistic for you in this scenario. While you can undoubtedly accomplish increased health within a year, the idea here is that because this is an adoption into your self and identity, then this is a goal that will eventually become second nature over time. You may not remember that it is a goal because you gradually begin to consider this to be maintenance in your journey toward personal growth.
The purpose behind your goal needs to be backed up by sub-goals. These will act as pillars by which you can hold yourself accountable. Drawing this out on paper can be useful, not only as a visual tool, but also as something tangible that you can return to, particularly in those moments that you feel you may self-sabotage (I recommend posting this on your refrigerator, developing this tool with someone who plans to do the same so you may have an accountability partner, or taking a photo/writing these down in the notes section on your phone so you can retrieve it on the go). You can begin to see these smaller ambitions as a little more concrete. You will need 2-5 sub-goals in order to support this abstract idea of who you would like to be. “I want to live a long healthy life” can be supported by “being mindful of what I’m eating, engaging in physical exercise, and monitoring my progress.”
Lastly (I know, for some of you, this seems like overkill), you need tasks that are S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-sensitive) to accompany the sub-goals. These are precisely the steps you take to be the person you ultimately wish to be. Again, you should have 2-5 tasks for each sub-goal. Going with the example set earlier, let’s say your sub-goal is “monitoring my progress,” some possible tasks should include “weighing myself weekly, keeping a food journal and making logs daily, taking a monthly photo so I can reinforce my progress, and rewarding myself quarterly with new form-fitting clothes by adhering to each sub-goal.” Should the tasks become irrelevant or upon attempt seem hopelessly unachievable, simply replace or adjust the tasks to better support your sub-goal. As I mentioned before, drawing this out on paper can be a great visual tool. Doing so should look like a pyramid with your primary goal on top, your sub-goals just below, and your tasks at the foundation.
With a system this detailed and complex in place, you are better preparing yourself for success. Setting up goals of this magnitude does not have to be used as a New Year’s resolution; you can do it at any point in time. Who you would like to be takes detailed consideration as merely wanting to be different does not contain a “why” nor does it provide a “how.” It is important to remember to start gradually; you don’t want to burn yourself out within the first several weeks into this makeover. Remember to be encouraging yourself along the way or have someone who is encouraging you. Encouragement through positive self-talk or external reinforcement is a powerful motivational tool that further reinforces the likelihood that you will become who you desire your self to be.
References
Choi, C. (2020, December 14). New Year's resolutions statistics. Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.finder.com/new-years-resolution-statistics
Economy, P. (2019, December 30). 10 Top New Year's Resolutions for Success and Happiness in 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020, from https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/10-top-new-years-resolutions-for-success-happiness-in-2020.html#:~:text=Studies show that about 60,percent of us achieve them.&text=As the New Year fast,old year and beginning anew.
Kaufman, S. B. (2020). Purpose. Transcend: The new science of self-actualization (pp 149-185). New York: TarcherPerigee.