Are you a resolution maker or a goal setter?
For the better part of my life, I was a resolution maker. I resolve to…. It wasn’t a choice I made or even really explained, it was a phrase I was taught: New Year’s Resolution.
When asked, I bet you can rattle off five or ten things you’ve resolved to do. As I type, I am contemplating whether or not I’m going to break my resolve to do Dryuary when I meet my best friend for a much needed happy hour this evening. That’s the thing about resolutions – they really don’t seem to have much weight to them. You can cast them off whenever for whatever reason. What I’ve truly come to learn is that I need more than resolve. I need goals. And, resolutions aren’t the same as goals.
Merriam-Webster defines resolution, in this context, as the act of determining. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have resolve and determination. Those are both things to move you forward in your endeavors, projects, and GOALS. In my opinion, goals are where the game is at. A goal, especially if you’re setting a SMART goal, requires action, measurability, specificity, and movement. Goals have an action plan which carries more weight than the words of resolve in a resolution. (Ironically, one of my goals for 2021 includes shedding some unnecessary weight.) Because of the accountability and action associated with goals, for 2021, I choose goals over resolutions.
I use a mashup of resources for pinpointing the areas of my life I need to focus on the most and then develop goals associated with them. If you’re interested in what I work with or need help choosing your goals for 2021, I’ll link to those at the end of this post. After doing the work, here are the three over-arching goals I have for 2021:
- Cultivate discipline (this goal is my PUSH goal as it helps me be successful in my other goals, as well).
- Level up my nutrition.
- Write consistently.
What are your goals for 2021?
Even if there is just one, have your sights set on one thing you can do to reach higher this year. It can be something personal for you, like losing weight. It could be taking a class or webinar to learn a skill that benefits you, your family, or your company. Or it could just be something to bring more fun and relaxation into your life, like planning a game night once a month. Whatever your goal or goals are, make sure they are in a place where you can see them every day so you always are reminded of what you’re working to achieve.
No matter how silly or serious, how short or long, your goals matter because you matter.
I’d love to know the number one goal you are working on in 2021 so that I can be your cheerleader! If you’re in need of resources for goal setting and planning, here are the things I either have used or currently use:
– Lara Casey’s Power Sheets
– Chalene Johnson’s PUSH Goal System
– Emily Ley’s Free Planning Printables (esp that brain dump)
– My friend, Christa Hutchins – Christa is a friend I met at a conference for writers and speakers back in 2016. She has a great website, but also tremendous courses and free resources. I participated in her Move Forward Mastermind last spring and the planning resources she shares are worth the cost of the course alone. If you sign up for her newsletter, you’ll know when she offers her free courses, many of which include her basic planning resources. She’s a gem!
A planner: I’ve used them all and my favorites are The Simplified Planner (there’s also a version at Target), the Happy Planner (goals version), the Budget Mom’s Live Rich Planner, Erin Condren Petite Folio. (Truly, planners are such a personal preference. Look for the one that has the tools you need and give it a try.)