Guidelines for Goal Success

The new year is exciting, but sometimes it comes with a subtle pressure as well.  Everywhere we look, we’re bombarded by messages regarding New Year’s resolutions.  

While December 31st isn’t too different from January 1st, it is a marker for a final chapter closing, and a first chapter beginning again.

Therefore, the new year does usher in the hope for new beginnings.  A time for thinking through new opportunities. And that can be exciting.  We’re finally going to get all that stuff done we neglected to do last year … or achieve those goals that somehow just fell off our plate undigested.  

 But the pressure point is that if we're like most humans, we all start out with the best intentions … and then slowly lose our steam.

Let's reverse engineer this a bit.  Rather than give you a list of questions to ponder to help you set your goals (and if you crave that, you can go here), I thought I’d provide some guideposts to help ensure your success in what you set out to achieve. 

But I will tee up a starter exercise to get you thinking about what’s important … since things just don’t happen without some careful thought and intention.

 So first, let’s prime the pump and take the Rocking Chair Test.

 This just gets you thinking BIG PICTURE, setting the construct for the specifics. 

 Envision yourself at 100 years old, sitting in a rocking chair on your front porch.  You’re looking back at your life … thinking about your proudest accomplishments, your happiest moments, and also your regrets.  

• What accomplishments are going to make you feel that your life was well lived? 
  
  Remember we’re all unique individuals, and we all define our “accomplishments” so differently.  What’s big for one person, may not register for another.  It doesn’t matter - as long as it has meaning for you.  

• What are the “happy highlights” of your life?  

  
  Try to figure out how to make those moments/occasions occur more regularly.
   

• What do you regret not doing?  
  
  Wouldn't it be wonderful to conclude life with no regrets for what we didn't get to or experience? What can you do now … to make those things happen at some future point?  It might take a few steps … so think through how to chart your path.
   

• What were the building blocks for you living to 100?
  
  If you lived to 100 years old, you must have done a lot of things right.  You have a pulse on your health and are mindful of the dimensions of healthy living.  What did you do?  What didn't you do? What do you think really worked for you?

Now, hopefully that visualization has provided some good food for thought regarding how to put some structure around your year.  

To make sure you’re setting yourself up for the greatest possible success, take these guidelines into consideration: 

Be aware of the Goldilocks principle.  

Often we approach the new year ready to tackle big goals.  Take advantage of that energy, but just be measured.  If you set goals that are too big or too hard, you may get frustrated and end up failing.  If you set goals that are too easy, they may just not even seem significant enough to bother with.

Try to settle into something that is just right.  Give yourself time to adjust to a new routine.  If you want to start running, for example, what goal feels right? Probably not going out running every day.  But maybe 3 days a week?  That may feel more attainable. 

Timing is important.

When you start something new, think through the time you have, and where you can insert a new goal that will set you up for success.  Is there a time of day that you can control?  Where an hour doesn’t evaporate or get taken by others that you need to attend to?  For many of us, we most easily control the first hour of the day.  

Regardless of what you’re trying to do, just think through the timing that will set you up best for success. 

Habit Stacking can help.

What is habit stacking? It’s simply stacking a new habit on top of another habit that you already do mindlessly.  Like brushing your teeth … or making that morning cup of coffee.  Interested in adding more strength training exercises into your routine? How about doing some morning squats while your morning coffee is brewing?  It doesn’t have to be a lot.  Establishing the routine is most important.  

Motivation is not the enemy - clarity is.

Whatever you decide you want to accomplish, break it down. Visualize how you’ll get it done.  Where?  When?  Do you need to create a supportive environment to support this habit? Make it as easy as possible.  Be aware of the dimensions of setting SMART goals, to optimize you success:

 S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Achievable

R = Relevant

T = Time-bound

Creating clarity is key.  Then you know how best to proceed.
 
Find an accountability partner.  

A friend, a spouse, a coach … someone that you are aligned with and can help you when you’re struggling.  Someone that can help you think through overcoming obstacles, or remind you of why it’s so important to you to keep moving forward with this goal.  

Realize that if you fall off track, that’s OK.  In fact, it’s normal.  Just don’t give up. Get back into the groove, as soon as you’re able.  

Don’t beat yourself up.  None of us is perfect, and most likely things will get in our way, or prevent us from doing something.  Work your way around it and just keep going.  Start again.

And finally, remember “Perfect is the enemy of good.” (Voltaire)

Sometimes we place a huge barrier in front of us that we need to climb over before we begin. We can’t start eating healthier until we’ve done a load of research pointing us to the right food plan.  We can’t start meditating, until we’ve explored all the apps and youtube videos to discover what we think might work.  

Just start. Rather than figure out the perfect “diet”, just add an extra serving of veggies to your day … or just meditate 1 minute a day … which might just be a series of deep breaths, in and out. That’s it.  Little by little, the habit, when it’s easiest to embrace, has the highest likelihood of succeeding. 

And once that habit becomes part of a normal routine, then you have the ability to expand it.

Hopefully this gets the juices flowing.  And if you need help, I’m always here for you.  Just let me know. 

So let’s get going!  I know this will be a GOOD YEAR for all of us!