From new years' resolution into life goals
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In the last post, we talked about the benefits of transforming new year's resolution in detailed goals, or SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound). That is the first step to create a plan with targets and deadlines that will make it easier for you to track your progress throughout the year. You don't want to contribute to the 80% of new year's resolution that fails by February!
Motivation to go beyond the basics
This is the first time I am going through this exercise, so, if this is new for you, you are not alone! As I mention before, I used to write the new year's resolution in my journal, most of the time without clear targets or timelines, revisit it on occasion throughout the year, and finish the year with balance of what I'd accomplished and what I could've done better. Although my balance has been positive, I believe I have the potential of doing more in many aspects of my life, like personal projects, volunteering, wellness, career.
In addition to detailed goals, BHAGs (big, hairy, audacious goals) can help me to challenge myself and go one step further. In any career, you usually just get promoted to a higher position when you do more than what you are expected to. Similar to that, if I put more energy to met and exceed my own expectations in life, I believe I'll get to a next level of personal and professional development. I have no idea how this new level looks like and I hope you will embark with me on this journey, so we can discover together.
The light in the end of procrastination
I was really excited to start working on my goals when I wrote my last post. But I got too caught up in the best methodology to start, and a procrastination wave hit me for a week or so. Have you ever felt stuck in the middle of the excitement for starting something new? Welcome to the team!
We are divas, we may delay a project, but we don't give up! So I took the first step and copied my resolutions from my journal into a spreadsheet.
Turning resolutions into goals
Next step was adding details, targets and deadlines. As an example 'evolve on yoga' became:
- Continue to practice 3 to 4 times a week throughout the year.
- Challenge myself to do a new pose or try a new style every 2 months.
- Go to a yoga retreat until September.
Then I added columns for each month of the year, as I want to both plan and track progress on a monthly basis. January and February are gone, so I just added the results. For March I included targets for each of the goals that should contribute to the overall goal for the year.
In my calendar I added check points in the mid and end of each month. By mid month I will track the progress of the ongoing month and plan for the following one and, by the end of the month, I will register the final results and adjust plans for following month if needed. I know that it is more suitable for me to get this done over the weekend than during the week, so I have my calendar reminders set for Saturday mornings.
I am really excited to work harder to accomplish my goals and dreams and to share this journey with you! What methods do you use to track your goals? Share here or on Facebook!