2019 Goal Setting Strategy

Let’s talk about setting goals!

I’d love to hear from you if you feel the same as me, but this time of year gets me so jazzed and motivated. I absolutely love the holiday season and I’d never want to rush past it, but after they’ve stopped playing Christmas tunes on the radio and the celebration is a few days removed, I can’t help but look forward to January first.

Does anyone else feel empowered, cleansed, and alleviated once the holidays are over and you can start to reorganize your life that was scattered about during December? It’s like a big satisfied sigh. We can now reset, clean up, think ahead, dream. We have a whole year ahead of us that is teeming with goals unmet, ceilings to shatter, habits to create, growth, lessons, progress and hope.

Planning a strategy for conquering the new year and reaching goals is important. So here are some tips that I use when planning out my goals for the year ahead. If you’d like to learn tips on how to succeed before taking action on general life goals, check out my Goal Setting 101 Pt. 1 post. Today I’m diving into my exact Yearly goal setting process.

Plan Ahead

In this case, we’re planning for the new year, so ideally it’s a good idea to think about your goals in advance. Sit down the week before New Year’s Day and really ponder what you’d like to improve, change, or stop doing in the next 12 months. Do this before you plan to start so you can be prepared and not get flustered by getting behind even before beginning.

When I was planning out what to post on Tuesday, I considered posting this article but then decided it best to post my January Budget Checklist to start off the month. But the more I think about it, I’m glad this goal-centered blog post is going up a couple days past the start of the year. Why?

Well, I just talked about how it’s best to plan before the new year, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. But don’t let falling behind on a deadline to start planning your goals deter you from planning them at all.

Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t yet started planning. We’re five days into January; it’s not too late to work ideas out and set goals, just set a date a couple days in advance when you will start so you have time to plan properly. You can still reach your goals, as long as you set them.

Ideally you’ll be ready at 12:01 a.m. on January 1st, but if you’re starting January 7th, make sure you’ve had time to mull your ideas over a few days in advance.

Set Up a Meeting

Here’s my goal setting process. **First, I talk with my husband and set up a time we can dedicate to talking about our goals. It’s important to block out a time that is free from distractions. We had three meetings this year for different areas of our lives. A specific one for our goals, a second for our finances, and a third for work.

Categorize

**Second, we like to categorize our goals into three sections. Mine, his, and ours. We’ve both had time to come up with our separate goals or write down ones that have popped in our minds as we’re in the meeting, and then we brainstorm goals we want to achieve as a couple. Think about every area of life, not just physical or finances (although super important), but think also about intellectual goals, spiritual goals, etc.

Be Specific

**Third: I am completely guilty of setting a vague goal. But if you are specific in when you want to achieve it and how, you might find it’s easier to reach. This year I put some specific parameters around my goals in hopes of actually achieving them.

Sign the Document

**Fourth: Accountability is huge. I definitely suggest brainstorming with someone you love and trust like your spouse or friend or family member. It could be whoever you want, but it seems to help to bounce ideas off of them and have someone that can help keep you motivated.

Another way to keep accountable is to sign your written goals. If you typed them out or wrote them in a notebook like I did, sign it. You’re making a commitment to yourself. Let that be a motivator as well.

Keep Them Where You Can See Them

**Fifth: I talked about creating a vision board in my Goal Setting 101 Pt. 2 post. Definitely do that if you can! I have a general life vision board, but for my yearly goals I like to just write them out.

I realized a mistake I made last year, and that was not keeping the goals I made in a spot that I would see and be reminded of them everyday. While making 2019’s, I was looking back and saw some goals I forgot I made simply because I didn’t remember making them. It’ll be a huge help, and something I’m going to do this year, to keep them on your fridge/desk/mirror or anywhere you can see them everyday.

I really value the opportunity to examine my life and set a standard I’d like to reach. It’s so important to always be learning and pushing yourself to strive and accomplish new things.

**Have fun along the way, be content while you wait, and do something you’ve never done before. But don’t do it for other people or to be like other people. Set goals for yourself and understand it’s not an overnight express accomplishment. To get to where you want to be, it might take some time. But that’s where A Zesty Existence comes in. It’s all about enjoying every phase of life, even if you’re waiting for something new.

What are your 2019 goals and what is your process of setting them? Let me know in the comments!

Cheers!