As we approach the end of another year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on where you are and where you want to be. The transition into a new year is a clean slate, but whether you take advantage of it is up to you. Either you take control of the new year, or it will take control of you. The choice is yours, and it all starts with intentional planning.
Planning
Success rarely happens by accident. It’s the result of careful preparation and deliberate action. With any decision or goal in life, it is important to plan early to ensure as clear of a path possible to the finish line or enough thinking it through to be able to navigate contingencies and roadblocks. For a new year, I always plan 2 months ahead and begin executing the last month of the year.
Think of planning as building a roadmap. It won’t eliminate every obstacle, but it will help you anticipate roadblocks and chart alternative routes when needed. Personally, I start planning for the new year two months in advance. This gives me ample time to think through my goals, break them down into actionable steps, and troubleshoot potential setbacks. By December, I begin executing my plan so I can hit the ground running when January arrives.
When setting goals, it’s important to be specific. For instance, if your goal is to get in shape or lose weight, don’t just write vague statements like “I vow to lose weight” or “I vow to get in shape.” Set a clear timeline, for example: “I vow to lose 20 pounds within the first six months” or “I vow to run a mile in seven minutes and bench 140 pounds within six months.” Being specific will keep you connected with your goal, otherwise you will not have a true metric of what the finish line looks like. Imagine running a marathon without knowing if it is a half marathon or a full marathon or even where the finish line is. As you are running and getting tired, you will eventually quit due to a lack of guidance. But if you know exactly where the finish line is, then most likely you will hold yourself accountable and push to the finish line.
Thinking Big
It is very important to think big, often times we limit ourselves by setting goals that feel safe or achievable. There is a line to draw between unrealistic and mediocre thinking, but I am a firm believer of thinking as big as you can. Sure, you can’t grow wings and fly, but that doesn’t mean flying is impossible. You could build an aircraft, board a plane, or even skydive. You get the point, by thinking bigger, you allow yourself to dream beyond conventional boundaries. Even if you don’t achieve your grandest ambitions right away, the pursuit of those goals will lead to growth and improvement in various areas of your life. It is crucially important though to have a have it all written down and to document it, which I will discuss next.
Writing It Down
There is nothing more powerful than writing down your goals and plans. It’s one thing to have an idea floating around in your head, it’s another to see it written down with specific terms. Especially when you use powerful words such as “I vow,” when you write down your goals. They become promises to yourself rather than dreams and wishes. It is also important to not only write down your goals and plans, but to actually have actions you plan on taking to line up with these goals. Writing things down creates a record that you can refer back to. It helps solidify your goals in your mind and keeps you accountable. For example, if you want to lose weight, write down your vow and exact amount of weight you want to lose with a diet and exercise plan. Without actionable steps, even the best-written goals can become stagnant. When you write it down, you can always look back at it and your brain processes it as a mission. In my experience, every time I write something down, it happens.
Having a support group
One of the most crucial aspects of accomplishing anything significant is surrounding yourself with people who uplift and motivate you. What happens to you on days that you are not motivated or when you are burnt out? That’s where a support group comes in. These are the people who will remind you of your “why” and help you stay on track. Your support group is your safety net during tough times, and a source of encouragement when you need it most.
Document it
Finally, documenting your journey is very important. If you do not have a method to measure your progress and to keep yourself accountable, how do you know if you truly are progressing. In addition, how will you stay motivated when progress does not happen overnight? When you track your journey, you can really see what you are doing and stick to it. When you can look back and see how far you’ve come, it reinforces your commitment and reminds you that progress, no matter how slow, is still progress. Documentation helps you see what’s working, what isn’t, and where adjustments are needed. For example, if you have fitness goals, wearing a smart watch that tracks your steps and calories burned, or entering food and drinks that you consume during the day on an app that tracks macros. With time, you will be able spot trends and adjust accordingly.
With these strategies in place, you’ll enter the new year with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Here’s to making this your best year yet!
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