As the year draws to a close it’s time to define some goals for the new year. I find this time of year exciting not just because of the faint sound of sleigh-bells in the distance but because I love that the new year offers an opportunity to redefine my short term goals & refocus.
Here are my 3 simple strategies to define & conquer your new year goals:
1 // DEFINE WHAT YOU WANT
This is a wildly broad statement that use to leave me feeling pretty overwhelmed. That is until I heard a quote last year that really changed my perspective on short and long term goal setting. It’s a quote by Tony Robbins and it goes something like “we overestimate what we can do in one year, and underestimate what we can do in 10”. It kind of blew my mind when I heard it and now, rather than making a list as long as the Great Wall (and being disappointed when I don’t achieve it all), I write a short list of attainable tasks.
Achievement feeds confidence, so when we set realistic bite size goals not only are we more likely to achieve them, but we’re more likely to keep moving in the general direction of those bigger goals which we might otherwise tell ourselves are too ambitious. The key is to get specific, break each goal down into bite size chunks, separate the first few ‘actionables’ and put them prominently in front of your face. They’re your goals for 2018.
If you smash one of the targets early, refer back to the master list & drag out a couple more.
2 // KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID
The KISS principle – used a lot in marketing and design but seemingly often forgotten in life. Part of my plan for the last quarter of 2017 is to simplify the shit out of everything. I’m getting rid of unnecessary clutter in my house, simplifying my wardrobe, my beauty regimen, my daily/weekly schedule, and most importantly decluttering my desk.
When I sat down to really consider what it is that makes me feel overwhelmed the answer is work load, and more specifically, keeping track of deadlines and timeframes amidst all the other things that pack out my day/week/month (and dealing with setbacks when something unexpected pops up!). I’ve found the solution is setting my month out on paper, and streamlining my week by creating a simple & realistic routine. Then, I put it literally in front of my face so I can refer to it daily and if something shifts I can see clearly what my options are, juggle, and move on.
3 // GET YO SELF A WHITE BOARD
I’ve refined my process over the years and have found that 100% of the time, when something is in front of my face, for me to read & focus on, every, single, day, the chances of me sticking to routines and kicking goals is far greater than if my mere words are buried under a mountain of paperwork. (And there is actually research to support this process – showing that the brain physically rewires itself when practices & thought processes are repeated). So my advice here is get yo self a white board.
I was recently introduced to this little baby, the Justick and it’s brilliant. It works electronically to hold papers in place without pins or magnets & has a clear cover which works as a whiteboard so I can also write over notes and templates. Game changer.
By putting my entire month on my Justick, along with my goals and inspo, I have managed to maintain motivation & momentum… as things change I can wipe the marker off the top layer and edit my month in moments, instead of feeling overwhelmed & struggling to recalibrate.
So that’s really it! Simplicity is key, and henceforth that shall be my motto. Bring on 2018!
To celebrate the simple life, I’m offering this HUSTLE template as a free printable, and will also be releasing a free 2018 Calendar too (I know, xmas has come early right?) For now, you can download the HUSTLE template here, and if you’re interested in getting the Calendar, subscribe to my mailing list and you’ll have first access as soon as it’s released! For those that want a Justick of their own, you can find them here.
N x
*This post was sponsored by Justick. While this is a sponsored post my reviews & opinions are authentic. I own my style, and my words, and you can read my full disclosure statement here.
3 Comments
Kate - Mint & Moss
November 21, 2017 at 10:57 PMLove this.
Jenelle Witty
December 31, 2017 at 5:05 PMYou are so right that somehow having your plan laid out right in front of you helps you keep on task! I have a page here that helps me stay on top of the blog posts, emails, etc I am working on so I don’t end up straying too long online shopping or getting distracted. Am going to hop over to check out these white boards now, this looks like a better solution!
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com
Nicky Lark
January 2, 2018 at 9:47 AMOh I am literally the worst with distractions haha, this year I’m going to stick to these strategies though and see just how much I’m capable of achieving! xx