4 Ways to Help You Set Goals for 2021

Happy New Year! We made it through what was the strangest and hardest year for so many. Despite this though, we managed to learn, re-learn and grow during 2020. With the start of a new year many are sitting down to set goals. This is great, but I am not the biggest supporter of New Year’s Resolutions and let me tell you why. If we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that life is short. We don’t have the time to wait ’til a new year to set and start on new goals and intentions. Instead we start now, whenever that may be. Life will throw us curveballs that will make us respond and adapt and so too do our goals and intentions. Even if we ‘fail’ (aka miss a day of your well intended workout schedule, etc) that’s ok! Start again tomorrow. With that said I love and fully believe in the importance of goal setting so whatever day you are stopping by here, now is that time to set goals if you haven’t done so or reflect and refine current goals. Here are my go to tools to help you too set goals and intentions for 2021 and beyond.

Create a Vision Board

I love dedicating an evening to creating a vision board for any specific aspect of your life of all of it collectively. I flip through old magazines and pull photos and words that stand out to me as important. This could also be done easily digitally on canvas, powerpoint or other computer programs. Either way, it is important that you display your vision board so that you can see it often and be inspired and reminded.

2. Circle Brainstorm

Sit down with a pen and a piece of paper. Set your timer for 2 minutes and draw a circle. For the 2 minutes you will write down everything you would like in your life . This includes feelings, things, values, etc. On the outside of the circle you can write down things you don’t want. Try to focus on the inside of the circle more than the outside though. This exercise is timed and quick, so it doesn’t give you much to overthink the things that your write in the inside and outside of your circle.

3. Write ‘A Day in Your Life’

Take the time to imagine what you want a typical day in your life to look like. Pick the time of year and how far in the future (5 or 10 years). Write about how you feel, what you do and anything else you want to make note of. This should help you to reflect on what you value and what the important goals are that you want to work towards.

4. Break it down! 10, 5 & 1 year goals

Start with writing out your 10 year goals. I find it helps to break them into categories such as personal, work, health, etc. Pick 1 or a couple for each that are the most important. (hint: refer back to your ‘day in the life’ or ‘circle brainstorm’ to help guide you). Then set your 5 year goals with the same categories. These should reflect steps that will help you reach your 10 year goals. Then, write out your 1 year goals and use them as steps to reach out 5 year goals and therefore your 10 year goals. One think to note that I think is super important is that these goals are NOT written in stone. They can be changed! In fact, they will likely change. By writing and setting out our goals we are working to improve and grow in a certain area and through that growth we learn. The goal is not wasted if you didn’t achieve it or your plans changed, it still helped you to grow which is what goal setting is all about!

5. Talk about and look at your Goals

It is so important that your goals are something you make visible to yourself and if you’re comfortable with those around you. You are more likely to achieve your goals if you talk about them with others!

Have your tried goal setting before? Let me know what’s worked for you in the past!