Out with the old, in with the new. My new approach to goal-setting.
Experienced organizers recommend never buying something new without throwing something out. Acknowledging that this is a first-world problem, I agree whole-heartedly with this advice. I consistently comb through my closets and drawers, discarding items sitting relatively unused. Clutter weighs us down.
If stuff is crowding out our lives, we would do well to have less stuff. Take one look at my garage and you’d have a hard time believing I feel this way but, after all, I share a house with six other humans, only a few of whom appreciate decluttering as I do. #2018goals
The same principle applies to our time. Perhaps it’s even more critical to “declutter” when it comes to time because it is a finite resource. My four-car garage can host an infinite supply of junk but each of us only has 24 hours in each day. Certainly we all seek to use it wisely. But we don’t.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery (author of beloved story The Little Prince) wrote: “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add but when there is nothing left to take away.”
In other words, we improve our lives not just by adding in wholesome pursuits but by ridding ourselves of the less-worthwhile ways in which we spend our time. Sometimes it takes a lot of pondering to achieve this. It’s not as if most of us are wasting our lives away in riotous living. I can safely say that anyone who even attempts setting goals is likely at the point of life where he/she must discard some of the “good” things in life for those that are “better” or “best”.
So this is my new approach to goal-setting this year: Out with the old, in with the new. Not just new…better.
First, I began by brainstorming a few of the things I want to be. Once I identify what I want to become, I can better evaluate my goals to ensure that they are contributing to that end.
Second, I evaluated what I could do to simplify my life, to buy me more time to accomplish new goals. I didn’t write this one down, but I was recently released as the Young Women President in our ward. I LOVED working with the young women in our congregation but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t monopolize my every waking hour. With a new, less demanding calling, I suddenly have time to do the things I’ve put off for the last three years. Happy New Year to me!
Sometimes we have to dig deep to find ways to simplify our lives. Occasionally, the sacrifices are painful. One year, our family eliminated all extra-curricular activities. It was a risky move because all of our kids were progressing in various sports and activities. But we experienced the benefits we anticipated and then some. Totally worth it.
Next, I set some measurable goals and categorized them into daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals. I kept my “what I want to be” sheet handy so I could make sure that each of my goals fit in those parameters. Most people recommended limiting your goals to 7-10 at a time so that success is more attainable. I have a few more than that, but since there’s a bit of crossover in the long-term aim of those goals, I’m calling it good.
Every month, I intend to map out the specifics of my goals onto a worksheet that I can display. For instance, for my annual goal of reading twenty books, I will pick out the exact titles of two books for that month. Or, for my goal of inviting 1-2 families over for dinner one Sunday a month, I will pick out the specific families to invite. When possible, I will put it on the calendar. Otherwise it won’t happen, let’s be honest. By doing this, I am regrouping on a monthly basis to stay consistent on working toward my goals. AND, I’m allowing for inspiration and flexibility in the specifics of those goals to ensure that the means meet the ends. Here’s my worksheet for January:
I intend to display these on a bulletin board in my room as a constant reminder of what I’m trying to accomplish. Each month’s page has a quote about goal-setting to inspire me to press on. Between that and google calendar, I should have no trouble remembering. Right?
I also have a chart for daily goals that will help me keep track of how well I’m keeping up on those.
If any of these methods resonate with you, feel free to use my Goal-Setting worksheets.
