Resolutions are out. Focus is in.
We are a week into the New Year – Welcome 2020! I am not big on New Year’s resolutions. Why? Because stating what you will do only once a year is not sustainable or fulfilling. When it comes to personal goals, I like to do just that – create goals - but on a monthly basis. The reason for this is things change and while you can set long range goals for yourself for the year, creating a monthly focus helps to keep you on track and to adjust to what is most important at the time. Here are some steps for creating your focus goals:
Put yourself at the end of 2020. What would have to happen in order for you to be most fulfilled? Think of the end game in your work, family, health, wealth and spiritual buckets. It is best to talk in generalities here (dare I say to forget about SMART goals?) – Do you want to be more healthy? Then say that and why.
The important thing is to paint the picture in your mind of what you want your future to look like.
Do a short centering exercise to set your monthly focus (for centering instructions, see accompanying blogs).
Determine monthly theme. As you think about your month, what words come to mind with there you are at now and what you want to remind yourself throughout the month? Some of mine in the past have been Preparedness, Gain Clarity, and Get to it. Don’t overthink this – whatever set of words come to you is what you can use.
Determine steps to take this month in each bucket. This is where the magic happens. Only choose 2-3 steps in order to make it manageable. If you do this in each bucket you will end up with about 10-12 simple things to do this month to move you forward.
Write accomplishments in a monthly calendar. This is one of the most important steps that is often overlooked. On a separate monthly calendar, I write my highlights and accomplishments. Write down the one thing that happened that day that was meaningful for you. Did you start a new workout? Land a big appointment for work? Write it down. I tend to be very hard on myself and think I haven’t done enough toward my goals, when I actually have. Looking back and celebrating my accomplishments motivates me for the next week.
Repeat and be flexible. Each month I read through my year’s goals and reset my focus for the month. Adjust anything that has changed and realize it will. We are humans and not robots so nothing is consistent – it ebbs and flows. For instance, when I had a relative become sick more of my focus changed to time with family.
Enjoy and have fun. Life is an adventure and can be both messy and rewarding.
I’m here to help you cultivate what counts in your work and life and so you can be more fulfilled.