4 Steps To Make Sure Your Goals Take Root

It’s Here!  2022! 

This is the time of year that most of us make a promise to ourselves to do better, lose weight, get a new job, change our life.  But statistically only about 8 percent of us who make a New Year’s resolution stick to it.

So what do we do?  Throw up our hands and quit before we start?  No. No. No.

I want to share with you four steps you can take to make sure your goals take root in 2022 and grow into real change for you.  You will learn a new approach to your 2022 commitment to a better life. 

Before we get started let’s take a look why it is so hard to stick to our goals when we make them. 

First of all, it is common to be positive and feel energized when setting out to make change.  As you begin, your determination does not falter and you push your way through the tough spots.

But then a brush with reality abruptly causes us to go back to old habits and behavior:

• The washing machine breaks down. 
• There is a job change in personnel at work. 
• A family member is diagnosed with a medical condition.
• Your child has trouble at school.

One way to combat these situations that will hijack your newfound decisions is to take into consideration that there will be stumbling blocks and as you set out with your new goals, keep this in mind.

Let’s get started.

1.Take Note of 2021 Highs and Lows 

Begin by taking a look at last year.  Jot down high and low water mark events, then take a look at how you reacted.  How did you respond when an exciting, thrilling event happened? Then take a look at stressful, unpleasant events and again, how did you handle it? 

Everyone’s life is filled with highs and lows, but how you handle those events will determine if your outcome is successful. 

This year we had an epic family vacation when our whole family stayed on Lake Michigan at Mark’s childhood cabin.  It was also a year of challenges as we learned how function and navigate post Covid. I did not treat each situation the same way.

Once you take a step back and observe your past behavior then take note and arm yourself and make plans when you bump into reality.  Plan for the best and worst situations you will meet.  There will be days that are stressful and when you get home you won’t want to eat your salad and walk on the treadmill. Think about how you will handle these situations.

2. Set A Realistic Goal

Notice I said goal not goals. Make one change at a time.  Many times we want to go on a diet, begin a new gym regime and learn a new language – by March. 

Many New Year’s resolutions and goals require behavior change, which means more than a decision to eat less. 

It means you will need to shop and cook differently.  You also may need to rethink certain social situations and family events. 

Avoid absolutes like: “I’m not eating any sweets ever again” or “I’ll never use my credit card.”  By making absolute goals you set yourself up for failure.  These types of unrealistic goals push you to try to figure out how to get around your own goal. 

Understand that you only have a limited amount of willpower.  Pick one thing that you can realistically accomplish and make that your 2022 goal.  If you have multiple goals, then make a list of the goals you want to accomplish and then put them in order of how you want to accomplish them.  Tackling one thing a time will help you make the changes you need to make in 2022.  The better you become at making small changes, the easier it is to keep going.

3. Write It Down

Write down your 2022 Goal and post it where you will see it.  By writing it down, it helps to keep it clear and concise.  When you carry your goal around in your head it may seem that is enough, but it is easy to do some mental bargaining and not hold yourself to your own goal.  In other words, it is easy to cheat on yourself.  This is a great way to be accountable.

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“Your will matters most the moment you make a resolution – and you’ll want to be able to recapture the intensity of that moment again and again.” Marvin D. Seppala, M.D. of Hazelden

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When you write down your goal, also add steps on how to reach your goal.  This will allow you to make goals that require small acts of will and not weeks of vigilance. 

“Lose 20 pounds,” sounds precise, but a bit unrealistic without a plan of action.  When you break it up and add the steps you will take, then you position yourself for success. 

“I will lose 20 pounds, by taking the stairs at work, making a weekly menu with healthy meals, when I need to eat out, I’ll have a salad, I will exercise 4 times a week at the gym and 2 times a week at home for at least 30 minutes.

4. Tell Somebody

As we talked about earlier some goals you may want to achieve may require significant behavior change.  When you are talking about beginning a new exercise program or losing weight you may not be the only one involved.

• Going to the gym will require a membership and cost, time away from home, a way to get there, proper attire.
• Losing weight will require a change in diet, which means meal plans and new recipes, adding new foods, getting rid of some.

Remember this is your goal and your spouse and/or children may or may not be making the same goal. 

If you want to accomplish your goals successfully, you want your family members and your close friends on your side.  By communicating your goal and how you plan to reach it they can help reinforce this plan.  It will also help them to understand some of the changes that you are making and why.

When you took a look at the highs and lows of 2021, you may have discovered some stumbling blocks.  Now is a great time to share those things that have challenged you in the past.  Talk out how you plan to avoid those stumbling blocks in the future.  You may need to (kindly) solicit your family and friends help.

There is no foolproof way to make goals and successfully achieve them.  But there is YOU. 

• You can make a choice.
• You can strategically make a plan.
• You can do it.

Take control of your life and you decide who you will be in 2022.

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When goal setting, it’s important to make SMART Goals.

SMART Goals are:

S – SPECIFIC – What do I want to happen?

M – MEASURABLE – How will I know when I have reached my goal?

A – ATTAINABLE – Is the goal realistic and how will I accomplish it?

R – RELEVANT – Why is my goal important to me?

T – TIMELY – What is my deadline for my goal?