As we get closer to the end of one year and begin to step into a new one, the process of reflection and setting goals can feel a bit overwhelming. Perhaps the solution is reframing them to not point out something you lack or what’s “not good enough”, but instead simply make it about living with more intention. This simple act of recognizing what I desire out of life and then putting pen to paper has helped me do so much more than I would have thought possible years ago. Creating goals for the new year doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
Turn it into an event. Whether alone or with a partner or friends, pour yourself a glass of wine, light some candles, turn on some music, and start writing. Put it on your calendar like you would any other important event. Making it into something you’ll forward to, not something you have to check off your list, makes all the music.
The first step is to write down 50 goals and dreams that come to mind. Initially, jotting down 50 ideas may seem challenging, but the secret is to think outside the box. Include both the small pleasures and the grand aspirations. Think of this like a bucket list for life: what are 50 things you want to do over the course of your life, not just the upcoming year.
It can be as small as reading a certain number of books or as big as going to the moon! The objective is to get curious about what your heart desires and what things you want to do with your time. Think of it holistically in terms of what you want to accomplish in your career, health and wellness oriented, and personal development
Avoid editing as you write; don’t hold back. You might be surprised by where your thoughts take you! Once you’ve finished, go through the list and write the number 1, 3, 5, or 10 next to it. Is this something you want to accomplish in the next year, 3 years, 5 years, etc? Then you’ll re-categorize the list of goals based on the numbers.
Once you’ve subcategorized, you’ll be able to see if you’re more of a short-term or long-term thinker. If most of your goals are in the 10-year time frame, think about how you can break them down into smaller one-year goals that can build off each other year after year. If I want to visit every continent in 10 years, what is one new continent I can visit next year? If most of your goals are in the next year, think about what you can realistically accomplish in one year. Start with those that are most important to you. We tend to overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in 10 years.
After you’ve listed and categorized everything, keep a copy in a visible spot. Whether it’s saved in your notes app or placed on your desk, make sure you see it frequently. Check in with yourself every few weeks to see how you’re progressing. You can follow the same process during these check-ins: put it on your calendar and make it an event. It’s fun to see what you’ve been able to accomplish or what you may take off your list if it’s no longer of value to you. Putting pen to paper and setting timelines around when we want to achieve things, and then reaching those goals, is so powerful.
Goals, dreams, a checklist for life, you can title it however you please. Whatever you call it, I think it’s such a helpful way to be more intentional about how you spend your time here on earth. Have you ever made a list like this before?
