New Year’s resolutions are upon us! Fun fact: New Year’s has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love all the traditions that come with pressing the reset button (particularly after a year like 2020). A lot of people knock resolutions because people fail to stick with them. I on the other hand, really appreciate the collective effort on self-improvement regardless of the outcome.
I approach resolutions and goals a little differently each year. In past years, I’ve thought of a mantra and set a few goals around that. I love that Oprah chooses a “word” for her year – 2020 was “purposeful.” I think having a mantra or a word or an image helps to attach emotion to the direction of your goal. This year, I’m focusing on “simplicity” and “organization” to free up the time/headspace to spend with my VIPs and ensure my actions are aligned with my business & personal goals.
I try not to have more than 3 business/career goals & 3 personal goals for the year to make sure I stay focused, but it’s sometimes hard to narrow that down! For 2021, I’m really focusing on maximizing my morning and evening routine for 2021, so I have (admittedly more than 3) micro goals of changing those routines. If you need inspiration, I love some of these suggestions (check out our earlier post on sourcing inspiration):
- Review spending against your budget each month
- Cook One New Thing Each Week
- Read a book a month (this is one of mine – replace nighttime TV with a book)
- Try a 30 Day Challenge like Dry January (also on my list!)
- Delegate what you can
If you’re setting a resolution, there are ways to ensure you are set up for success. Here are some tips from lifehack.org to increase your odds of achieving your goals for 2021 and beyond:
- Write it Down!! – this is a big one and something that I hear all the time, but there’s good reason for it. If you write down your goal, you’re 1.4 times more likely to achieve it. Find a place to write down your goals (with great specificity if possible) and place them somewhere visible. Having visibility to your goals allows for recall and is a reminder of what you’re trying to accomplish.
- Work Backwards – figure out digestible actions that you can take in the next week, month, quarter to achieve your annual goal. Having a clear roadmap will help keep you on track.
- Visualization/Positive Affirmations – take time each day to visualize how you’ll feel when you reach your goal. Feeling that sense of accomplishment and attaching that emotion helps with carrying out the sometimes difficult actions of getting to the end.
I hope y’all had a restful holiday and are feeling recharged for the new year. I’d love to hear your resolutions for the new year so please share in the comments!
Take care and be well,
Emree