SETTING GOALS
January is always the
time of year when we set goals and make resolutions. How many of those we keep throughout
the year is questionable. So, my advice to myself for starting each new year,
and keeping on-track throughout the year, is to start planning in November and
December of the previous year.
As I have often discussed
in the past, I belong to two goals groups (one has a daily check-in and the
other a weekly check-in) and I set out annual goals that I start working on
before the new year begins.
I find if I plan,
write-out that plan, check-it twice (oh, wait – that’s my naughty or nice, holiday
wish-list,) and check it often (at least once a month) to ensure I am on schedule,
I am more likely to achieve what I wanted to in any given year.
Having said that, life
gets in the way – whether it is personal set-backs or things beyond our
control, readjusting goals all through the year is perfectly acceptable. And
healthy. No point in making goals that will cause stress.
REASSESSING
If you are anything like
me, you have high hopes and ambitions during those down-times that are less
stressful. But once you get into the midst of head-down, get-er-done mode, it
is easy to get overwhelmed and become negative. So, the second part of my
advice is to give yourself leeway to readjust your goals from time-to-time. And
that means, you can put off achieving a goal until later. It also means when an
opportunity arises, you can squeeze-in or replace one new goal for another one
that can wait to be finished.
SMALL INCREMENTS
As is normal at this time
of year, there are plenty of experts who have advice. This morning on the news
a psychologist gave some sage advice (wish I could remember her name.) Instead
of setting a lofty goal (such as my goal to release 3 books this year,) set
goals that are the steps to that goal. In my case, I have three books already
written, so my next step is to edit them (which is my stated goal with the
intention to also publish them.)
Editing a book is one
goal. Releasing it is an entirely different goal. Instead, I also need to
adjust my stated goals to work on the next steps (after editing) to getting
each published. Those steps can include sending the edited manuscript to a professional
editor, then a formatter, then commission a book cover, etc. And while that
might be a lofty goal, it also means that if I edit all three books during
2023, I can then take the next steps, one at a time. And I may or may not get
all three published this year. I may get one published and another one
formatted, and the third one sent to the professional editor.
I now realize I need to
adjust those goals to show incremental steps.
PROS AND CONS
Setting goals can help
you push yourself forward. But setting goals too high, and overachieving, can
wear a person out and cause a person to not reach goals. The key to staying
sane is flexibility and readjusting goals along the way.
REALISTIC VERSUS PIE-IN-THE-SKY
The other piece of advice
to myself every year, is to be realistic. It’s okay to set stretch goals. At
the same time, add in variations of what that goal will look like, so
readjusting goals won’t make you feel sad or bad.
Always remember – not
meeting a goal is not a failure. It is an opportunity for adjustment so you can
achieve that goal under different circumstances.
CELEBRATE
Here’s to a happy and
successful new year. But also, here’s to a realistic and non-stressful new year
as you reach to achieve new goals.
How do you prepare your annual goals or celebrate your successes?
One of my goals is to edit and publish the next Cowboys of Mineral Springs book.
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~ cottages to
cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~
Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and
spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the
shores of Maine.
Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her newest novella is The Love Left Behind. Look for both a Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker) later this fall.
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12 comments:
Delsora, Thanks for sharing your goal setting process. This year I'm slow to the starting line. I did make a list of 4 - 5 tasks I thought I could complete this year and that's all. Here we are 50% of the way through January and I've not even typed them up or shared them with others. Why? Because while I'd love to have them accomplished, I'm not confident I can do them.
My mind set it that even if I don't finish 100%, if I do anything at all I'll have completed xx percent. Last year I made it to 44% of my 2022 goals. Now if I'd only had as a goal a series of health issues, I'd have a higher "success" rate!
Judith - I hear you. I was over-zealous last year, and it wore me out. So, I tamed them this year. If I finish them= YAY. If I don't, I have to remember they were GOALS not DIE-HARD EDICTS. The most important thing in writing goals is to remember to take care of oneself first and foremost. Whatever else happens - we celebrate. I look at my goals as a guide only.
Good Luck!
Delasora,
Great post and good advice to follow.
Excellent advice. I'm always reassessing my goals, and making sure I'm being realistic, rather than lazy or too ambitious. Great post!
Jennifer - unfortunately I am still in my "lazy" mode halfway through Jan - time to get moving on these goals!
Diana -thanks for stopping in. Writing goals and sticking to them is always a challenge. My biggest secret (which you know about) is checking in with goal groups. It keeps me on my toes, for sure.
Good advice, Deb. I, too, was over enthusiastic last year.
Here's hoping this year we both meet or manage our goals for the New Year with vim and vigor, whatever they are.
Fingers crossed, Sue - that both of us can achieve and still stay sane in 2023. And glad I have friends like you to help me through the process each year!
Great blog. I've a goal list that I feel is doable, especially my writing deadlines. Good luck to all who have set goals for 2023.
Judy
And congrats to all who accomplished even part of their goals in 2022!
Judy - Glad you stopped in. You must have a crazy goal list with all the books you put out. But I'm glad you do, as it keeps me in books. Love your stories.
Diana - yes, one thing to mention when setting new goals is to reassess past goals. So, congrats to all who accomplished their goals last year. And if some need to be moved from one year to the next year, no problem. Goals aren't set in stone - they are guidelines to give us a map. And sometimes we need to take a detour, or backtrack a bit to gain perspective.
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