Succeeding in the New Year by Kaylea Dillon
It is a common idea that a new year means new goals. This is going to be the year that we change ourselves. This is going to be the year that we shape ourselves into a better being.
However, within a few weeks those changes are rarely still in place. There have been many years when I tell myself:
I am going to consistently exercise. I am going to consistently eat better. I am going to have a better morning routine and stick to it.
Yet, I get a month in and these goals have quickly turned into a dream that is not obtainable for me.
Today we are going to talk about our goals and go a bit deeper. We are going to look at the intention behind the goal and learn how to make those lasting changes that can be so elusive.
Knowing how to make a good goal can be a challenge, but it gets a bit easier when we look at what the goal is intending to affect in our life. An intention is what I consider to be a zoomed out version of a goal.
This year I made a goal that I was going to get back into exercising by walking at least twice a week. By committing to walking twice a week I was really making an intention of healthy movement. I know that I feel better when I am active and that it is good for my body.
There are a lot of goals that could be part of that same intention. I could say I was going to start running twice a week; I could say I was going to stretch three times a week. Yet, all of these goals fit the intention.
For me, I have always found it easier to look at a goal I have first and then zoom out to find the intention. This allows me to then zoom back in to other goals that match my intention. Other people may find it easier to look at their intentions first.
Try both ways by answering a couple of these questions to figure out which is easier for you:
What is a goal I have? What area of my life does that goal relate to (what is the intention of the goal)? What are other goals that relate to this intention? How do I want to feel?
What area of my life am I seeking improvement in? What is something I can focus on in that area of my life? What are the feelings I want to have around that area of my life?
If the first set of questions seemed easier, you are like me and start with a zoomed in approach to intentions and goals. If you preferred the second then you might be better seeing the big picture first.
Now that you know how you think about intentions and goals, let's look at some of the specific intentions we may have in our lives and the goals that might go with them. Remember when we are goal setting to focus on SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound) goals.
Increasing movement in our lives to be healthier.
I am going to walk for at least 15 minutes 3 times a week all month.
I am going to stretch for 10 minutes after I get out of bed each morning for the next 2 weeks.
I am going to go to the gym and do cardio for one hour five times a week for the next six months.
Feeling better about ourselves.
I am going to post an affirmation on the bathroom wall and repeat it to myself everytime I go into that bathroom this week.
I am going to write a list of things I need to prioritize each day this week.
I am going to smile at myself everytime I look in a mirror today.
Caring for our mental health.
I am going to schedule time to talk to someone about how I am feeling at least once a week this year.
I am going to use the HALT strategy (check out this video) 3 times this week.
I am not going to study after 6:30pm this week and schedule time to do something fun at the end of my day.
These are just some of many possible intentions and goals that you can use to build the life that you want to lead and know the intentions behind the goals that you set. It took me a while to get comfortable with this version of goal setting but it has been useful to understand why I am setting certain goals. Sometimes I have found that I am setting goals that are not well aligned with my intentions. This gives me the opportunity to take a closer look and align my life. Hopefully, they can have a similar effect for you. Try it out and let us know what you think!
Additional tools for when you may be in crisis:
U.S. Crisis Text Line: 741-741
Ohio Mobile Response and Stabilization Services: 1-888-418-MRSS (6777)