Goal Setting in the New Year
As we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020 many of you will begin the tradition of setting new year’s resolutions/goals. Whether you participate in the “new year new me” way of life or not, setting resolutions/goals for the new year is almost inevitable. These resolutions can be anywhere between concrete goals or a simple idea.
Some of the most common new year’s resolutions/goals that will be put into place as we countdown to the new year includes:
Exercise more
Lose weight
Get organized
Learn a new skill or hobby
Live life to the fullest
Save money
Spend less money
Quit smoking
Spend more time with family & friends
Travel more
As the clock strikes midnight, the motivation to succeed is at a peak but then it begins to fade. Studies have shown that less than 50% of people actually succeed when it comes to following through with their resolutions and less than 10% of people reach a goal that they have set.
How do we make sure our 2020 goals succeed?
Set positive goals!
Try to set a goal where you are adding more of something rather than taking something away.
Exercise more
Lose weight Eat Healthier foods!
Get organized
Learn a new skill or hobby
Live life to the fullest
Save money
Spend less money Save money!
Quit smoking Implement a healthy coping strategy!
Spend more time with family & friends
Travel more
Set S.M.A.R.T. goals!
This format that makes your goals much easier to track. It is an easy tool that can add structure to your goals moving into 2020.
Specific- What exactly do you want to achieve?
Ask yourself-
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
With whom?
Measurable- What will it look like once the goal is achieved?
Ask yourself-
What is clear concrete evidence that my goal has been achieved?
Attainable- Is the goal possible when you look at time, money, and effort put into it?
Ask yourself-
Is this goal realistic?
Relevant- Is this goal important to you?
Ask yourself-
Why do you want to reach this goal?
What is the reasoning you set this goal?
Will achieving this goal get you what you want?
Timely- When do you want to achieve this goal by?
Ask yourself-
Is this deadline realistic?
Is this deadline to lenient?
Plan action steps!
Come up with a plan with action steps that will help you achieve your goal. Also consider potential issues that you might come across when trying to complete you goal and brainstorm ways help.
What do we do if we mess up?
Apply what you learned!
This is where you look at why the goal was not achieved. Were these reasons out of your control or could you have done something different?
Reevaluate the goal!
This is where you will ask yourself, do you still want to accomplish this goal? Is this goal still important to you? How can I prepare differently this time to where I have more success in achieving this goal?
Try again or Set a new goal!
Taylor Stricklan,
Counseling Intern
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