Sure, the New Year is a perfect time to examine where you’re headed and to forge new habits. The only question is, are you wasting your breath with resolutions, or are you serious about setting achievable goals?
In this article, I want to examine the usual resolutions and offer my suggestions for actually reaching yours.
“Get Organized!” is among the top ten resolutions each year. The changes in the U.S. economy have pushed financial concerns higher on the list, but also underlined the importance of simple pursuits like enjoying life and spending time with family.
Compare the 2009 and 2010 resolution lists compiled from Franklin Covey surveys to see what I mean.
Resolution lists for 2011 differed slightly in ranking, but have the same elements overall. This is one example of resolutions suggested by 100 Day Challenge author Gary Ryan Blair.
- Lose weight
- Get organized
- Spend less, save more
- Enjoy life to the fullest
- Stay fit and healthy
- Learn something exciting
- Quit smoking
- Help others in their dreams
- Fall in love
- Spend more time with family
Of course, I believe that being organised is the key to achieving many of these goals. By that I mean having written goals, a plan for achieving them that is broken down into smaller, attainable plateaus, and having a way to measure your results along the way.
For instance, say you want to lose 24 pounds over the next year. That means losing 2 lb per month, or .5 lb a week. That is totally doable! What actions will you take to achieve that? Walk ½ mile four times a week and cut out all desserts. Great! Once you make those determinations, you have a much better chance of attaining your goal.
My request to you:
- Choose your top resolution from the list above or add your own.
- Write it down, using a positive sentence. Complete the statement, “I will ____________ by ________”
- Be sure your goal measures up. A well-written goal will fit these S.M.A.R.T. guidelines.
- S – Specific, put some numbers where your heart is.
- M – Measurable, the numbers won’t lie in seeing how you are doing.
- A – Action-Oriented, doesn’t depend on other people or circumstances, just you.
- R – Relevant, fits into your value system and doesn’t contradict your other goals.
- T – Time-bound, to be completed by a certain date.
- Review your goal regularly. Read over your goal morning and night. If you fall down one day get up the next and keep going. Once a week, measure your progress.
When your deadline hits, celebrate your progress even if you didn’t hit the bulls eye!
As always, feel free to comment below on what has worked (or not) for you!
For more inspiration, check out these lists:
My favorite: Top 25 Resolutions for Parents
Down to earth:Resolutions from the Heartland of Kansas City, Kansas
For you Dads:A Dad’s guide to New Years Resolutions
Life lessons here! Resolutions for Theme Park Fans
Are You Getting The Right Things Done?
Monday, January 3rd, 2011Yes, this is the first Monday of the New Year 2011. Did you jump right back into your life and work with gusto? Do you know where you are headed and how to get there?
One of the hardest things about a TO DO list is choosing which task to do first. That choice is difficult to make unless you have a known destination in mind. Then, do you tend to see one task completed, or do you like to dabble with 3-4 in progress at a time?
To find out your productivity quotient, try taking David Allen’s GTD-Q test. This is a “less than 2 minute” activity, so you can do it now. Find out what your strengths and weaknesses are in the “getting things done” arena.
Are you proactive or reactive? Do you have more creative ideas than you ever follow up with? How are you at taking care of details?
Suggested reading after you see your detailed results:
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
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Tags: efficiency, focus, goals, personality, productivity, strategy, time