Surviving 2020!
Why is it important to set goals? Setting goals for the year is considered important to overall wellbeing. Goal setting helps to keep you motivated in the short term; and, sustains purpose and vision for the long term. Goals are also important in establishing a sense of confidence, because achieving your goals feels pretty good! You feel like you’re getting somewhere and being productive with your time across the year.
>Set REALISTIC and SPECIFIC goals The experts indicate it is better to be very specific with your goal setting. If your goals are vague and not definitive, then you leave a lot of room for procrastination or becoming derailed from that which you are hoping to achieve. If you set very specific goals for yourself, then you have something to work towards. When you have aligned your goals to your personal value system, your commitment to the goal and its outcome is further solidified. It’s not as easy to break the commitment you’ve made to yourself. On that note, a friend or family member token you accountable assists in keeping momentum and motivation. It’s good to reach for the stars, but make sure your goals are attainable and tailored to your lifestyle and budget. SMART goals are those that are Specific; Measureable; Assignable; Relevant; Time-based. Save yourself the disappointment by setting goals that are SMART and therefore within your reach but not too comfortable - discomfort drives action.
>Get out of your comfort zone It’s important to keep your goals achievable, but that doesn’t mean your goals can’t be a stretch, simple or easy. Setting goals that are out of your comfort zone is important, because you expand your perspectives, discovering things about yourself you never knew. Achieving your goal is a lot more satisfying when you’ve found evidence that you are actually able to achieve far greater than you once thought possible to achieve. So, make 2020 the year you expand your horizons and experience things you wouldn’t normally set up to experience.
>Healthy habits To help you achieve your goals this year, develop some healthy habits to help you stay motivated throughout the year and improve your overall quality of life.
>Healthy habits definately include: Positive self talk Your negative inner critic and the accompanying toxic thoughts won’t get you anywhere. Read that again - its not simple pop psych, wu-wu or magical thinking. The implications of this are evidenced in science. There is nothing more paralysing to discourage and hinder you from achieving the goals you've set before you. Even if it feels like you’re getting nowhere and you’re struggling, it’s very important to cultivate a compassionate, kind and considerate inner dialogue. Speak to yourself like you’d speak to a dear friend or family member that’s struggling. You’d never be harsh or angry with them if they didn’t achieve something they’d set out to do, so why would you to yourself?
>Stay active It’s true when they say: “healthy body, healthy mind.” Even if one of your goals for this year wasn’t to lose weight or go to the gym, it is very important to stay active and cultivate movement, even if it is just for a half hour every day. Meaningful movement e.g., chores around the house, taking a short walk, or putting some music on to dance like no one’s watching - staying active is good for you and will help keep you motivated.
>Maintain a healthy sleep schedule Sleep is everything when it comes to mental health and wellbeing. We take it for granted but getting enough sleep, and quality sleep will support your mood overall and will help you keep a clear head throughout the day. No one likes feeling tired, so set a strict bedtime and night-time routine and zzzzzz.
>Try something new It’s easy to become stuck in bored or unmotivated when you’re committed to the daily grind of - Eat. Sleep. Work. Repeat. It can be a numbing cycle throughout the week. So, it can be very beneficial to try out something new each week to spice things up a little to break the boredom. There is a host of activities and new experiences you could try and ask for assistance if you need it.
>Make your goals visual Keeping a visual reminder of your goals can prove to be very effective in helping you stay motivated throughout the year. Vision Boards are a fad at the moment, and access to a vision boarding workshop is readily available. The idea is that you gather representations of that which you want to achieve in pictures or quotes and poster it. Seeing it will be a reminder of what you’re working so hard for. Utilise technology eg., download an app that tracks your progress so you can see how far you’ve come, and you can also see where you can improve.
Starting a new year can be intimidating, and 2020 - a new decade. Much of what others are doing and achieving can be viewed on social media which can be a distraction at best, a trap of comparison at worst. We hope that these simple endorsements of things you likely already know will remind you, as they are reminding us, to set goals that help you be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be across 2020. Here’s to a positive mindset, and a great year of moving forward into all that lay waiting.
