It is yet another New Year! Funny how the calendar single handedly prompts us to plan and evaluate our lives. During this phase, many talk about resolutions. But, what exactly are resolutions?
Resolutions defined by Merriam Webster:
- the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones, the act of answering, the act of determining.
What words are synonymous with this seasonally popular word? AWARD, CALL, CONCLUSION, DETERMINATION, JUDGMENT, OPINION, DECISION, VERDICT. Hopefully this puts ‘resolutions’ into a little more context. The challenge is often in finding resolutions that motivate you to act. If you are one of these individuals that buck this annual effort, think of resolutions as goals for your life.
Doesn’t everyone have goals and aspirations?? We want you to have goals and actually accomplish them. Here are a few tips on setting and completing the right resolutions (or goals) for you and yours:
- 1. Find your OWN goals
You may be thinking “of course I’m trying to find my OWN goals!”. People often consciously and subconsciously pick up the goals of others. This can be great if someone has motivated you to act and better yourself or your future. However, piggy backing on the goals of others may not always be effective.
In setting new year resolutions or goals for the new year, It is hard to succeed at someone else’s goals and certainly challenging to answer someone else’s calling. Finding goals that are truly tailored to your wants and needs may involve getting to know 'YOU' a little better.
Here are a few ideas on making sure the goals your find are truly your own.
- Take a career assessment test
- Take a personality test
- Take a temperament test
- Take a typology test
- Take a motivation & needs test
- Take a self awareness test
* (for best results. . be honest!!)
- 2. Write goals down
There is so much power in the written word! Research continuously finds that writing goals down increase the likelihood that an individual will actually accomplish them. Writing your resolutions is a great way to chart your progress and remind you of all the missions you set out to accomplish.
Ideas:
- Tape goals to your bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, or take a picture of your goal and place on your phones wallpaper or computers screensaver.
- Use sites such as RemembertheMilk.com and Listography.com to manage your lists and share them with others.
* (Read more on the benefits of lists . . . . )
- 3. Create goals for different aspects of life
Your life isn’t one dimensional, and neither are you! Chances are that your resolutions or yearly goals will have significant diversity. It is important to set goals that cover different aspects of your life. Here are a few ‘ goal categories’ to get you started:
- Work
- Finances
- Relationships
- Spiritual
- Health & Fitness
- Short & Long Term
- 4. Make SMART Goals
Anybody can set a goal but the key is setting an effective and attainable goal. Incorporate the SMART principle when setting your personal goals and resolutions.
Think . . .
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Timely
* (Be sure to check out these quick points on making your resolutions/goals SMART!)
- 5. Design goals that are accomplished with help
We are in this world with people, there is a reason for that. Your not meant to go at every goal alone. Support, help, and assistance can be helpful in reaching outcomes of success. It has been found that many people fail at their resolutions due to lack of support or accountability. You can develop goals that may include the help of others or just communicate your goals so others can hold you accountable.
- 6. Celebrate . . . Progress!
Don’t just wait to pat yourself on the back or celebrate a job well done when your overall goal is accomplished. It is important to reward yourself for the big and small accomplishments along the journey. Celebrating progress in whatever form will help motivate you to continue striving for success.
What else are we celebrating this month? . . . . . .
13th Make Your Dream Come True Day
14th Dress Up Your Pet Day
19th National Popcorn Day
21st Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
21st National Hugging Day
23rd National Pie Day
24th Compliment Day
28th Fun at Work Day
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