Did you ring in 2021 with a “New Year, New Me!” mentality? …No? Just us?
Kicking off a new year presents a unique opportunity to refresh your mindset and set yourself up for success. A great way to achieve this is to set unique goals for the year, goals that are actionable and clear, rather than vague resolutions. Read on to uncover our top recommendations to set and achieve goals in 2021!
Be Specific
Goal setting can be overwhelming, especially if you set vague or out of reach targets (keep those for a vision board!). From setting goals like exercising more frequently, to paying off student loans, the more specific you can be, the less overwhelming making progress will become.
Think about it this way: when planning to cook an elaborate recipe, you wouldn’t go to the grocery store without a shopping list, or with a shopping list that contains vague guidelines for what you need. Just as you would list the specific ingredients you intend to purchase before even leaving your home, consider being similarly detailed and specific around setting your goals for the year. For example, if your goal is to pay off student loans, find out exactly how much money you will need to pay off each month, and commit to crossing that off your list each month. Similarly, if one of your goals is to exercise more often, consider giving yourself a specific number of days per week or month that you will go on a run or do a guided yoga class. The more specific your goals are, the more attainable they will seem – and likely, the more accountable you will be able to hold yourself to achieving them.
Consider utilizing a digital planner such as a Passion Planner, which also offers free pdf downloads to help you write down your goals and intentions.
Track Your Progress
How often throughout 2020 did you revisit your new year resolutions? Chances are you might have created a list and forgotten about it with the hustle and bustle of daily life (oh, and an unexpected global pandemic!)
For 2021, a great habit to develop is to mark your calendar for one day per month to revisit your goals. The purpose of this exercise is to track your progress and to hold yourself accountable. Even if there is a month or two where you fall behind on your plan, just the exercise of sitting down to acknowledge this will help you stay accountable by crafting a plan of action to get back on track.
Pivot as needed
The best part of creating goals for yourself is that you are in control of what happens. If life gets in the way (things happen!) or you take some time to re-evaluate, and realize your set goals do not align with your intentions, it is okay to change your goals. In fact, it is necessary! You are taking charge by evaluating and pivoting your goals. Instead of going through the motions, you are invested in your progress. Chances are you might decide to stop pursuing on of your goals. However, if you know that goals are inherently idealistic – meaning that you can change them as much, and as many times, as needed – the pressure associated with them will decline. There is no shame in changing course.
Celebrate the Wins
Achieving any goal, regardless of how big or small it may be, is a huge accomplishment. As you track yourself and your progress, make a habit of celebrating yourself. Eventually, you will associate completing a time-bound goal (such as exercising daily over the course of a week) with a celebration, which will fuel your desire to stay disciplined and on track. We love to pop a bottle of champagne, do some online shopping, get some delicious takeout, y celebrar!
Lastly, remember to be easy on yourself when it comes to setting and achieving goals – we are all a work in progress!
This article was written by Laura Dominguez
Laura immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia in 2008, and now lives in sunny Los Angeles, California. In her job as a Career Services Manager at Flockjay, she helps “nontraditional” job-seekers launch their career in Tech Sales. Laura specializes in working with underrepresented minorities, and is passionate about helping tech companies meet their D&I goals, one hire at a time. In addition to #LatinaGeeks, Laura has worked with 4.0 Schools and Saturday Business Academy in Southern California.
