Many people begin a new year with resolutions … fresh goals, usually focused on some kind of self improvement. Unfortunately, statistics say that more than half of resolutions fail by February. Personally, I abandoned even making resolutions many years ago.
It’s not that I don’t have any ambitions, but making a resolution is like making a promise to myself — one I know from experience I’m not likely to keep. If I have goals in mind, I’m more likely to pursue them as ‘intentions’ rather than ‘resolutions’. Intentions suggest a desire more than a promise. A desired goal is less intimidating than a promised one. I’ve talked about this in an earlier post.
While I was working on a New Year’s post for our church website I came across an article on the GoSkills website that offered ideas for ways to make goals more attainable:
- Prepare for change by taking a personal inventory. Evaluate what you’ve realistically been able to accomplish (or not) in the past. Recognize your limitations.
- Write each goal on a separate sticky note, then arrange and rearrange the notes on a handy surface in order of priority until one emerges as a manageable goal that will inspire you toward achievement.
- Break up your goal into specific manageable chunks. For example, instead of losing fifty pounds in 2020, set mini-goals of five or ten pounds per month, and celebrate each milestone.
- Write down your goals, share them with supportive friends/family, and document your progress. This will help keep you on track.
Do you have goals for 2020? Things you’d like to accomplish or maybe even intend to do? How do resolutions work for you? How do you get the tasks done?
One of my main intentions this year is to make inroads into the boxes of family and historical photos that fill a corner of my office. They’ve accumulated there because I didn’t want to put them back downstairs where they’d be out of sight, out of mind again. I thought if I had to keep looking at those boxes I wouldn’t be able to ignore them. Wrong! Now they’ve become such a permanent fixture that I take their presence for granted. I don’t even see them anymore! I’m going to have to make a concerted effort to tackle the job. I have empty albums; I have scissors, paper cutter, archive quality pens and glue. I just need to s-t-a-r-t.
I guess saying it here constitutes writing it down and telling my family and friends, doesn’t it? Gulp.
Well, I DO intend to make a start and hopefully get the task completed before year end. Note that’s an intention, not a resolution, but I’ll ‘document my progress’ and report in here periodically, and then we’ll just see how it goes. Okay?
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MUSINGS 
I do set goals at the start of every year and am quite good at following through. And if I don’t meet all of them, that’s Ok with me. I do need to write them down and share them. Good luck sorting out the pictures. It will be an enjoyable project.
I’ve always been a fairly self-disciplined person, but have never much liked imposed schedules, mine or anyone else’s. I probably sabotage myself deliberately. LOL. The photo organizing *will* be enjoyable, although I’ll undoubtedly get sidetracked examining all the old ones I’ve forgotten about. Goodness knows how long it’ll take me to complete!
I only started making resolutions again in January 2019. Last year I vowed to visit Bali, and I did! This year I’m concentrating on my health and physical well-being. So far, so good. Actually, I feel fabulous, so I see no problem continuing on. I like your ideas, Carol. I’m the same way. I have a notebook for every job. Once I see my progress in writing, it spurs me on further. I also use my calendar and have it placed on a wall that I pass by often. Anything in writing always motivates me.
I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling great. Life in Bucerias obviously agrees with you. I’m counting on your motivation to get another book out soon — I’m overdue for another of your wonderful stories!
Thank you. What a sweet thing to say. (Hugs!)