Why does the start of a New Year make us all so charged and raring to go conquer new goals, make new plans, take on new challenges – all new, new, new? And how do we keep this energy and momentum running throughout the year?
Ask friends, family, colleges or even Google and most likely you will hear a similar chant of words that include “goals”, “resolutions”, or “plans” to name a few. But next I ask, how many of you have set new year resolutions/ plans or goals previously only to quit or give up on them within the first 3 months of that year? And why did you quit or fall short of achieving them? Well guess what – I am the exact same as you!
I have set resolutions/plans/goals previously – actually to be honest, basically every year since I can remember and have I achieved all that I have set out to in the past? – Most definitely not! Would I say I am a failure? – Most definitely not! I would say I was sometimes a little over optimistic, or I set goals that included factors that were out of my control and other times, life just had other plans for me. All in all, I can’t complain – I love what I have achieved in my life so far and the lessons I have learned along the way. Do I want to achieve more? HELL YEAH! Am I going to get discouraged if I don’t achieve all I set out to do….mmmm, maybe a little but I won’t allow myself to dwell on it for long. I promise I will learn from the experience, dust myself off and try another way. I will think differently!
In previous years, I would set my goals out for 5 separate categories: Career, Health, Relationships, Fitness and Personal. I would write down several goals/ targets to achieve for each of those sub categories on a piece of A4 paper, fold the paper up and tuck it away till the end of the year where I would in 12 months’ time open the paper up and review what of my list I had achieved or even items I had forgotten. The positives about this method were – I wrote more than one specific goal, I thought about my overall lifestyle and well-being and I allowed myself time to review it after the year had finished. The ways in which I could improve this approach, keep my goals on display so I have a constant reminder what I set out to achieve via meme’s, visual boards or prints, or just positive power statements. I could also let people in on my goals and plans, who knows a close friend or college may have ways to help you achieve them – ie. they too may want to join that gym routine with you.
So what does 2017 look like so far for me…..well this year I didn’t set goals or resolutions? I have decided to not define my year with my “to do list of goals” but rather challenge myself to set a series of ideas into motion by planting my seeds of thoughts and nurturing them allowing them to blossom. I still have my dreams I continue to chase and build everyday but this year my plans for Glo – Believe and personally will not control and define me – they will more simply challenge me and help guide me on new adventures. This tactic may not work for everyone but for me personally as I am someone who thrives off structure and routine – this more relaxed and balanced approach to my goals is a personal challenge that I want to attempt and most importantly enjoy. So whichever method you choose to take on for your New Year – go forth and give it 100% and whatever the result remember even the most successful people have failed on the way to the top, but challenges basically just give us great stories to share. Enjoy your process, accept your challenges, prepare for the ups and downs, enjoy the simple pleasures and celebrate your wins – big or small.
Happy New Year – let’s get after it!
May we all Glo in 2017!
K
xx