Resolutions vs Goal Setting

Resolutions vs Goal Setting

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2017 exceeded your expectations. It was definitely a year of peaks and valleys for me. Overall, I am grateful, thankful and appreciative of the journey. I will share more about those in a different post.

It’s officially 2018. And, many of us have been guilty of making resolutions over the years which, in many cases, end up going unfulfilled for one reason or another. I will lose 25 lbs. I will get married. I will buy a new house or car. I will exercise more. Any of these sound familiar? They all sound great. They are usually declared with good intentions. But, intentions and implementation are two totally different things. I ask you to consider NOT making any resolutions this year. Instead, consider goal setting as an alternative.

Goal setting is not the same as making a resolution. Goal setting consists of declaring an action and then, putting steps in place to ensure you meet those goals. It’s more intentional and carries more weight. There’s more of a sense of accountability and care associated with goal setting.

When setting goals, follow the KISS method-Keep It Short & Simple. Start with one or two personal or professional goals you’d like to meet. In the past, I’ve been guilty of having very lofty goals. I have grand ideas. And, while there’s nothing wrong with that, I have to be honest with myself about my ability to effectively execute them. I had to learn how to master the small steps and learn how to build a proper foundation. Practice makes perfect. By keeping my goals shorter and more realistic to my time and flexibility, I have been to master my goals MUCH better. It has given me the confidence I needed to try something else, then something else and still…something else.lol

If you’d like to gain a bit more clarity for your personal and/or professional life, check out the Work with Me section of my website. I’d love to help you develop your book or organization or help you gain clarity and confidence.

 

Resolutions: An Excuse for Procrastination?

Resolutions: An Excuse for Procrastination?

resolutionsEvery year around this time, I see so many people making plans for what they wish to accomplish for the new year. Some people want to lose a certain amount of weight. Some want to start an exercise program. Some want to write a book, begin speaking, start a radio show or new business.

Why wait until the new year start doing what you want and need to do now? I’ll be completely transparent in saying that I love to eat, and I’m especially partial to sweets. The holidays provide an opportunity for some of the best cakes, pies and cobblers imaginable. Macaroni and cheese, smoked turkey, dressing…I could go on and on. I know I need to exercise. I know I need to eat in moderation. Yet, I tell myself that it’s ok to indulge. And, there’s no need to exercise because it’s counterproductive if I’m going to just overeat anyway. I’ll just start next week. Until last week, next week had been going on for nearly 4 months.

So, what’s the REAL reason that you haven’t started exercising or written that book yet? Are you afraid? Don’t have enough discipline? Don’t know how to get started? You don’t need to make a resolution. You need to start now with the mental preparation. You need to start now with establishing discipline. You need to make your goals short, simple and realistic. Put pride aside, ask questions, study those who are already doing what you aspire to do and be willing to practice discipline and consistency. If you can’t do these things now, don’t expect much success in them happening just because the year changes.

The benefit of starting now is that it already gets you on track for the new year, so that you’re already ahead of the game. You may even find that what you were putting off for later may not even be necessary. If there are legitimate barriers that keep you from doing certain things at this time, then by all means, wait until it is feasible. But, for those situations that are within your control, take action and start now.