Have you made any resolutions? Without actionable goals, they may never come to life. As a Life & Career Coach, here is my guidance to give you something to celebrate throughout the year.
If you’re anything like me, the whole thing of making resolutions shows good intention, but many of us allow those good intentions to fall by the wayside. More than half of those who make resolutions at the start of the year, quickly forget them so they’re unfulfilled.
Time and again I work with clients who struggle to stick with the good intentions they’ve set for themselves, which tends to create a very real sense of dissatisfaction.
This is because resolutions actually come from deep within us, and are connected to the things that we really need for ourselves.
I’m not just talking about the whole, “be fitter” type of resolution – although this can help us feel better. I’m talking about resolutions that feel very specific to us, like being more confident, learning a new skill, feeling more fulfilled at work, improving our work-life balance, etc.
When we turn our resolutions into actionable goals they don’t have to remain as an idea which flutters around, before landing out of sight, only to reappear next year.
So, I’d like to offer my advice to help you make resolutions you can action, which will provide you with milestones you can celebrate throughout the year. And, who doesn’t need to celebrate life’s little successes at the moment?!
Clarify exactly what it is you want to achieve: name it, write it down, visualise it. Rather than having a vague idea, it’s better to have a specific goal in mind. This helps you identify where you’re aiming, what you want it to look like, and how you think it will improve your life, as we implement it in life.
If necessary, limit it to one clearly defined goal: rather than having multiple to work on, at the same time. This can reduce the sense of anxiety you may feel, and make the actions easier to define, implement, and achieve.
Plan your steps to success: what will it take for you to achieve your goal? If you want to move up to management level at work, for example, what do you need to do to achieve this? If you want to spend more time with your family, what do you need to clear in order to do so? If you want to see more of the world, what does this look like, and where do you have in mind? And, when you achieve it, how will you celebrate your successes
Map out your steps to success: write them down, in order of achievability. Breaking down your resolution into smaller, bite-sized goals, feels more rewarding and less overwhelming. It also has the advantage of making them feel easier to achieve.
Identify potential hurdles: what will it take for you to overcome them? These can sometimes lead to smaller goals on the side, but it can also help to give you confidence as you visualise what lies ahead. Especially if you are your own barrier – you can then identify how you need to work on your mindset, in order to stop holding yourself back.
Pick a start date – and go for it!
As you tick off each smaller goal, celebrate your success: A small treat for each step, which will culminate in a big celebration when you achieve your resolution.
Being able to work toward, and revel in the small wins will also have the advantage of giving you a better sense of wellbeing. Often when we feel at an internal sadness, it’s because we know we should have done something, but procrastinated, or put it on the back-burner. We know we should be in a better place, but aren’t because we didn’t take the first step to making it happen. This is also when it would help to have someone in your life with whom you can share your resolution, who will keep you accountable to it. For my coaching clients, I can happily act as a guide and supporter without being directly involved in their lives, removing the need for them to avoid me when they know they’re not taking steps they should have.
We don’t know what 2022 holds, but I do know there are elements you can take control of. Small steps like working toward achieving your resolution, can bring a sense of inner-peace, when you know you’re working toward something you really want.
If this is something I can support you with, then do reach out – I’d love to help you celebrate the small wins in your life. Please do give me a call: 07778 749 812 or email me: vic@proud-consulting.co.uk