Forget resolutions; be a goal-setter! Why it is not too late to set goals for 2019

Like many, it might be tradition for you to set the all-important New Year’s Resolution on January 1st. When doing so, you envision big dreams and even bigger rewards for the year ahead. However, March has now arrived and you realize that you either have not completed the resolutions that you have set or, even worse, have not started any of them in the first place. A recent study found that 30 per cent of Canadians make resolutions, and of those, a resounding 73 per cent of them give up on them by the time St. Patrick’s Day rolls around.

So why make them in the first place?

I say don’t.

This year, I challenge you to forget about resolutions (if you haven’t done so already) and set goals that can potentially change your life for the better.

The beauty of goal setting is that it allows you to think “big picture” about your life. Like vision boards, goal setting combines visualizing what you want and creating a plan of action to achieve it. Goal setting is not a destination; rather, it is a journey. Where a resolution can seem like a daunting mountain to climb, goals are pit stops along the way to something spectacular. Like resolutions though, if you do not put in the work, you cannot see the reward.

Here are five steps to setting goals and keeping them.

Decide what you want to achieve.

Do you want to run a marathon? Get a new job? Maintain a healthier lifestyle? Organize your closet? No goal is too big or too small. Make a list of the changes or improvements that you want to see then ask yourself, ‘Can this change positively impact my life?’ and ‘Is this something that I can commit to changing?’. If the answer is yes, then decide to take action on it.

Establish purpose-driven goals.

Create a goal that is EXACT (EXciting, Assessable, Challenging & Time framed). By using this formula to create your goals, you are ensuring that you are working towards inspiring endeavours that will motivate and stretch you, and can be measured within a 3-6 month span. When your goals have direction and purpose you will be more likely to achieve them.

Create milestones.

On your journey to success, there will be things that you need to do along the way to get there. Hire a trainer, get running shoes, update your resume, or get out of bed. Figure out all the steps that it will take to get you from beginning to end.

Schedule your work.

When you have a dental appointment, what do you do? You write it down, you make reminders, you show up. Do the same thing for your goals. Write it in a calendar, set an alert to remind you, set a second alert for good measure, figure out how long each task will take you to complete the task and block that time out to get it done. Treat your goals like you treat appointments and work.

Tell people about your goals.

This is a great way to hold yourself accountable for what you say you are going to do. By doing this you open yourself up to opportunities to advance your goals (i.e., someone who knows of a job opening or wants to train you) and people who want to cheer you on as you move towards success.

Get a coach.

Lacking motivation? Don’t know where to start? Seek out a reputable life or career coach that will guide you through this process. A coach can inspire you to achieve new heights or drag you across the finish line kicking and screaming. A coach’s goal is to connect you to your goals.

Goal setting requires change and change isn’t always easy. But if you make a plan, commit to incremental steps forward, and seek help along the way, you will be able to achieve your goals.

What goals do you plan to set this year?

Need help setting your goals? Visit Skill Market to explore our coaching solutions.