Be a Goal Getter this year and EVERY Year!

A new year with old resolutions? No problem! Learn how to accomplish those goals no matter what day it is.

There may be times where you need to roll over your resolutions, or may need to refine them. When goal setting, I like to keep it simple, because it can get messy. We’ll clean it up if it does.

Goal Setting 101

I divide goals into two categories: Short Term (days-weeks) and Long Term (months-years). For the purpose of resolutions, we will focus on long term goals in this post. If you need tips for tackling short term goals and to- do lists, stay tuned!

First, there are two parts to goal setting

You may hear some people say planning is important. Well, yeah, but that’ a broad term. So here are the specifics: Goals are the overall thing you want to accomplish. There is often an overlooked part that comes after your goals: objectives. They are the action item that will actually help you reach your goal. Your objectives will be what you focus on the most.

1. Goals: what you are trying to accomplish (broad)
2. Objectives: the ways you will reach your goal (specific)

Second, keep it simple and separate

You may have more than one goal, but keep them separated! Often I have people who incorporate more than one goal when trying to start the process: I want to lose weight and be healthier. Sounds good, right? Sure, but you’re going to lose your mind trying to get there. Too many things. We could make this two:

1. Lose Weight
2. Be Healthier

You can also decide if your goal has some automatics in it: Will being healthier cause you to lose weight? What is your motivation behind the goal or why is it important to you? If your objectives cover another goal or it lacks meaning and motivation, then just drop that goal. Again, keep it simple. Since I prefer to be healthy with a possible side of losing weight – let’s use the second goal.

Third, Ohhhh Objectives! Ohhhh Objectives!

Got your attention? Good. These require the most focus and thought and will make or break your success! I recommend having at least 3 for one goal, but do what’s necessary to reach the goal. There are three parts to an objective:

• Specific – what, how, where
• Measurable – when, how many, dates
• Realistic – to the now, objectives can be adjusted later

Lastly, put it all together and goal get it!

Using a journal, notepad, or a printout – put your goal and objectives somewhere you can see it. Every. Day. If you have a planner, write everything at the top and use check marks for each objective on each day. Find a system that works for you. After one week, if you have not been able to check off your objectives at least half of the time – they need to be evaluated! Don’t ditch them altogether. Go back and either change the frequency or amounts and try again the next week.

Be Healthier – Month 1

1. Eat 1 vegetable, at each meal, at least 3 x per week
2. Take a 20 min walk after dinner, at least 4 x per week
3. Drink 8 oz of water before and after each meal, 4 x per week

If you were able to check off your goals pretty consistently and you are confident in accomplishing your objectives and they come naturally – it’s time to adjust the objectives! That’s the exciting part! You’ll keep goaling with your new habits, but now you can create new objectives or adjust to support your goal.

Be Healthier – Month 2

1. Eat 2 vegetables, at each meal, at least 4 x per week
2. Go to the gym for 30 min, after work, 3 x per week
3. Write 3 things I’m grateful for from the day, before bed, 3 x per week

See how we start working with our objectives and building on them? We added to the first, changed the second while keeping with the physical activity theme, and then created an entirely new one to build on our overall health!

Don’t forget, just keep goaling!

Setting goals and objectives can take some practice, but remember to start with one goal and set of objectives and once you get the hang of it – you can keep goaling and goaling!

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