Every year we reflect during the holidays - thinking about the year we are ending and the one that is beginning.
Many people make New Year’s Resolutions while others make goals. What is the difference? Action.
A resolution is a statement of what you want to change. For example, saving money. A goal is a statement of what you want to achieve; the steps you need to take to achieve it; and when you want to achieve it.
Resolutions are statements of intention, while goals are statements of commitment.
You want to be part of the 20% club! What is this? It is the percentage of people who actually set a goal and accomplish it. 80% of goal-setters fail to meet their resolutions by February according to the NY Times.
When you think of setting goals for 2023, consider which area of life you want to work on. Is it your career, your family, your faith, your finances, your health, your friendships, your self-care, your rest, your eating, etc. There are many areas of life you can work on. Focusing on a few at a time is key to reaching your goals.
Once you have identified your area of goal setting, make sure your goal is SMART. Not just intellectually smart but this is a goal setting mechanism. S-M-A-R-T (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time defined).
SMART Goals
You can have goals like get in shape, or create more income but those are not SMART. You see you could lose a pound or gain a $1 and both of those could be met and you might not feel any more fulfilled than the day before. For example, Ridding 10 lbs by March 31, 2023 is a SMART goal or increasing your incoming money by 5% by April 1, 2023.
A goal should stretch you. It is something you measure so you know when you have obtained it. Attainable but not necessarily easy. Realistic to you, if you believe it, you can do it and time is defined. Without an end date, humans tend to procrastinate, put off and hold off until the deadline is near. Having specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time bound goals helps you keep in movement.
What are 1-3 SMART goals you are going to work on in Quarter 1 of the new year?
Here are some articles/resources to help you in your goal setting ventures in 2023 depending on your area of focus:
Let’s make 2023 your best year yet!
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