Resolving to Set Goals in 2021
2020 – the terrible, awful, never-ending year – is almost at an end, and as we look ahead to the new year, many of us are already thinking ahead. Do you make resolutions? How often do you actually realize them? Studies have shown that 80 percent of us fail in achieving our resolutions. In 2021, resolve to succeed – set goals to make your resolution a reality!
In the corporate world, we use the term “vision” to describe our picture of future success and the term “mission” to describe how we’ll achieve it. Successful corporations around the world understand the symbiotic relationship between vision (what) and mission (how). Apple’s vision is “to make the best products on earth, and to leave the world better than we found it” and they work toward that by bringing “the best personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.”
The majority of resolutions fail because we don’t couple them with a plan. Resolutions with goals are more likely to succeed. Consider these examples as you think about your plans for the new year:
Resolution: Declutter my house.
vs.
Resolution + Goal: Declutter my house by discarding or donating at least
50 bags or boxes of unnecessary items.
Resolution: Lose weight.
vs.
Resolution + Goal: Lose 25 pounds by eating more healthy meals
and exercising three times per week.
A vision without a mission is just a dream. Set goals to help your dreams come true in the new year!
Do you need help setting goals for the new year or staying on track? We can help. Schedule your appointment to learn how.
‘Tis the Season… to be Stressed?
When you’re feeling stressed out, sometimes the best thing to do is get some help!
Stress is a natural reaction we have to things that we experience. It’s normal to feel stressed from time to time, but once in a while, stress becomes a problem, and can come from family, social or work situations, finances or illness. Stress can be short-term or long-term, or even become chronic. For some of us, the holiday season can add to our stress – gifts to buy and wrap, cookies to bake, decorations to set up, etc. Our to-do list is overflowing, and it can be overwhelming!
Dealing with stress doesn’t have to be negative. If you’re faced with a new, exciting challenge, it can be exhilarating and motivating – racing toward a deadline or winning a competition is fun! On the flip side, negative stress can pull you down, de-motivate you, or cause your heart to race or your palms to sweat. Negative stress can come from simple things like being stuck in traffic, to more extensive stressors like managing a family member’s long-term illness or financial problems. What triggers your stress and how do you respond?
Proper management of stress is the key to diminishing, preventing, and even eliminating it. Have you ever known someone who never seems to be stressed? Ever wondered how in the world they do it? Chances are they’ve learned to practice effective stress management to successfully cope with the stressful circumstances that we all deal with.
If you’re feeling stressed, here are some simple ways to help manage through it and minimize its impact.
Write it Down - To effectively manage stress, you have to know what’s causing it. Take an inventory of what’s stressing you out and what triggers the most stress for you. Put them in a list with their stress levels (a scale of 1-10 works well) and make a note of how they make you feel (how the stress manifests).
Take Control - Look at your list. Is there anything on your list for which your response can be “easily” resolved? For instance, if you get worked up being stuck in rush hour traffic, it may be time to use that opportunity to catch up on your favorite album or podcast. You can’t control the traffic, but you can make the experience more positive and control how you respond.
Unloading – and Learning to Say “No” – Sometimes, we get stressed because there are things at home or work that we just don’t want to do, or things that we can’t do. Are there things on your list that you can delegate or just let go? Have you taken on new tasks or responsibilities because you feel you have to? Learn to say “no” to extra things that will just end up stressing you out!
Learning how to practice effective stress management in your life can make you happier and healthier. Understanding what brings you stress and adjusting your response goes a long way in helping you enjoy your life and focus your energies on things that really matter to you.
Are you feeling stressed? Is stress management a goal that you have for yourself that you can’t quite seem to get started on? We can help. Schedule your coaching appointment to find out how.
Gaining Clarity, Word by Word
Journals come in all shapes and sizes!
In today’s world of smart phones and devices, we have apps for everything – our calendars, our to-do lists, etc. – but for many of us, taking a high-tech approach to our lives doesn’t always help. Are you feeling more overwhelmed than ever before? If so, keeping a journal might be a good option for you.
There are a number of benefits to writing things down. Science has demonstrated that we learn more effectively when we read, say and write things down. Many of us took this approach to learning during our school years, but it’s just as valuable in our day-to-day lives as it was in the classroom. Whether you are trying to remember what you need to do each day, working out a problem or just trying to jump-start your creativity, keeping a journal will help! Journals can also help us remember details that might otherwise get lost in our busy lives.
Winter is a great time to start journaling, since we tend to hunker down more indoors and have fewer distractions outside our homes (I know, it’s 2020 and we’ve all been cooped up inside – all the more reason to write about the experience. I’m still hopeful for the return of normalcy in 2021). Regardless, journaling helps us slow down and destress, something we all need this year!
Not sure how to start a journal? It’s simple: Grab a warm blanket, a blank notebook and a pen, pencil (or crayon!) and snuggle in and start writing. Your tools needn’t be fancy, so don’t get hung up on those details. A simple notebook and something to write with is all you need.
We’ve compiled a list of prompts to help you if you’re stumped:
Write about:
Talk about your day. What did you do? What worked and what didn’t?
Your favorite childhood friend: What was your favorite thing to do together and what made it so much fun?
An adult in your life who left an impact on you. What made them special?
Your favorite holiday – what makes it important to you?
Your favorite movie – why you love it and when you first watched it. Who was with you?
A book you’re reading, even if you aren’t enjoying it.
A problem you’re facing – who is involved, what the options may be for solution and what you may need to do or say. Sometimes, doing a brain dump on paper helps with clarity.
Do you have a favorite concert you’ve attended? Capture the memory!
A vacation (your favorite vacation ever, one you want to take, etc. If you’re going on vacation, grab your journal and take daily notes about your experience!
Make lists:
Top 10 things you’d like to do post-COVID (aka your “bucket list”). Think big!
Daily to-do lists (check things off when you’re done).
Places to visit, movies to watch, books you want to read, etc.
Bands you’ve seen in person.
Other ideas:
Jot down an impactful quote and what it means to you.
Find a recipe you don’t want to forget? Capture it in your journal.
Copy the lyrics of a song you love (listen to the song while you do it!)