Hello friends! Happy New Year! Hope you all had a fun, safe holiday ringing in 2018. I know I’m a few days late on this, but I really wanted to talk a little bit about goals.
Viewing New Years resolutions almost as mini-goals or intentions can make them a lot easier to keep. I’m not telling you not to shoot for the stars, I’m just saying break your big dreams up so they’re easier to swallow and move toward in the mundane routine of day-to-day life. In a blog post I wrote not too long ago, The Importance of Setting Intentions: How to Create & Implement Them, I said “Intentions are similar to goals, but without the pressure of reaching a certain destination. They’re like guiding principles for the way you want to live your life and the kind of person you want to be. Instead of saying ‘I’m going to lose 5 pounds’, it’s saying ‘I intend to treat my body well and remain healthy and balanced’. Intentions are meant to be encouraging reminders.”. This couldn’t be more true or applicable at this time of year.
So, with all of that in mind, scroll down for a few steps to make mindful goals/intentions for the year that will stick.
1. Sit down & brainstorm.
It’s crucial to be thoughtful about what you really want to change. If you don’t truly want to change something then you won’t actually do it. This is where the mindfulness comes in… think critically about how you’re feeling at this moment or chapter in your life. Be completely honest and aware of yourself without comparison or judgement, or worry of others.
Some questions to ask: Is there something you’ve been wanting to do for awhile? Somewhere you’ve been wanting to go? A kind of person you want to be? What makes you happy? Does this goal align with your values? WHY is this a goal?
2. Pick a theme.
I’d recommend choosing a word or phrase as the umbrella over your smaller goals. What is the one constant you want to see in all areas? Balance? Drive/tenacity? Organization? Being yourself? Healthiness?
For example: This year I’m choosing to focus on the little things. The small joys that make me feel happy, grateful, healthy, connected, successful, satisfied. Calling family members. Drinking a lot of water. Setting my phone down. Planning my meals. You get it. Here’s why: 2017 was a whirlwind for me. I graduated from Chapman down in Southern California, moved back home to Seattle, started a full-time job as a Marketing Coordinator downtown, and launched my blog! It’s was a really big year with a lot of change. 2018 will be a bit different. I plan to stay at my job throughout the year, and will continue to live with my parents in order to get my student loans 100% paid off. I want to find happiness in the little things instead because added together they make up life.
3. Separate into categories.
Maybe you’re someone who just has one or two goals for the year – that’s great, don’t worry about this one! But if you’re like me and have a ton of small changes you want to implement, it helps to break them down into sections. My sister had this idea and I thought it was really good! These are my categories: health, relationships, experiences, and blogging.
4. Figure out the how.
How will you carry-out these goals? Without some sort of action plan it’s going to be hard to make it happen. If the goal will require multiple steps, break those down into a timeline as well.
Take this small example: I want to read more in 2018. Instead of just leaving it at that, I will get specific and add the how: I will read one book a month in 2018 by reading 20 minutes a night. (PS: I’m going to be reading Amber Filler-Up’s book club choices each month if anyone wants to join me)!
5. Put them where you’ll see them.
As I said in my recent intentions blog post, write your goals out by hand, make a vision board, or type them up and print them out – just get them on paper! Studies have shown we’re way more likely to achieve our goals if we write them down. Stick them on your bedroom wall. Look at them morning and night, reminding yourself why the heck you made them in the first place.
Here are 10 of the many small goals I made for the year (not including the hows). See one that resonates with you? Would love if you did it with me! Let me know if you are in a comment below.
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Drink 64 oz. of water a day.
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Keep track of the small things that make me happy by writing them on paper at the end of the day & putting them in a jar.
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Write one letter to a different loved one each month.
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Select one or two days a week to set aside a few hours for blogging.
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Make at least 4 weekend trips throughout the year.
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Schedule time for some extra self-love one day a week: taking a bath, relaxing and watching a show, reading, etc.
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Only use natural deodorant.
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Read one book a month.
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Plug my phone in across the room at night. Less time scrolling in bed and less time pushing snooze.
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Stick to my budget.
Now, after all of this, I have to say… I sort of have mixed feelings about New Years resolutions. On one hand they can be great, offering a clean slate and helping you get where you want to go. But on the other hand, they can be overwhelming and hard to keep, leading to disappointment if we don’t stick to them. I just want to remind you (and myself) that we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves. We need to take life seriously but not too seriously, and have grace for ourselves. We are humans at the end of the day and not a single one of us is perfect. It’s all about perspective. And sometimes holding our plan loosely makes room for new opportunities and even better things than we could imagine.
Thank you so much for reading and for following my blog! Stay tuned for some fun content coming your way in 2018!
XO, Sorelle
PS: How cool is my backpack in those photos?! It’s by a Swedish brand called Gaston Luga, and is made with strong and durable canvas & vegan leather pieces, perfect for everyday use. You can save up to $100 on their site with the 20% tax rebate for non-EU customers + my special code at checkout: sorelle15. Shop my exact backpack HERE.