New year has started, and we’re in a month again when people start thinking about making resolutions. Of course, we make these with great intentions, but it often isn’t long before many resolutions fall by the wayside—think of all that unused and unloved gym equipment people buy and then soon stop using!
Veteran Astro Strategist cum Business Astrologer Hirav Shah suggests a few tips and suggestions to help you accomplish great things in this coming year:
Table of Contents
1) Think big
I’m not talking about setting unrealistic goals for yourself but challenging yourself to some stretch goals. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you just set your mind to it and challenge yourself. To help you do this, create your goals, then take another look at them and ask yourself, “am I stretching enough?”
2) Create S.M.A.R.T. goals
While most people know the SMART acronym, they often don’t use it when they set their goals! SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. When goals are SMART, they help you get better results. An example of a SMART goal is: “I will lose 5 pounds by March 1.” On the other hand, a not-so-SMART goal might be: “I need to lose some weight.” By having SMART goals, we create targets that motivate us and give us the energy to reach the goals.
3) Get Writing!
You might think this sounds silly, but it’s really important. Written goals are much more likely to be achieved than unwritten goals. I like to suggest that my coaching clients keep their goals present, which is to say keep them visible, in your planner, or even in year P.D.A. You can’t do this unless you write them down!
4) Give your resolutions some planning time
Rather than scribbling something on the back of a bus ticket at the last minute on December 31, set some time aside to prepare your plans. By spending time focusing on what you want to achieve in the coming year, you will give yourself the space and the focus to help you set goals that will energize you. So many people set resolutions without much thought – focus on what you really want for your life.
5) Share your goals
No one knows the psychology of why this happens, but it does. The fact is that people are more likely to achieve their goal when they have shared it with others than when they keep it to themselves. By involving others in your dreams not only provides great motivation but may even give them the impetus to help you move towards your goal.
6) Ask for help
Like sharing your goals, asking for help can help you enjoy even greater success. A lot of people worry that they are imposing on people when they ask for help, but, in most cases, the reverse is true. People feel complimented when they are asked to help, and you might be surprised at how willing people are to help you achieve your goals when you ask them to.
7) Review your goals regularly
Coming up with goals, filing them away, and finding them a year later having got no further towards achieving them is frustrating and a waste of your time. I like to recommend to my clients that they review their goals weekly. Try reviewing your goals as you are establishing your daily or weekly plans – it’s really effective, as it keeps you aware of your own plans instead of effectively just reacting to everyone else’s to-do lists. By starting your day or week with a review of your personal and professional goals followed by planning your time, you can engrain the goal orientation that will encourage you to reach your goals.
8) Celebrate ‘little victories’
Some complex and long-term goals have many components. If you make a habit of rewarding yourself (even if just with a little pat yourself on the back) as you reach the smaller milestones, you can help energize yourself towards achieving your final goal. Too many people ‘run out of gas’ and never get to where they want to go. Working towards interim milestones gives you a better chance of keeping your motivation, keeping the ultimate goal present, and feeling a sense of achievement as you go.
Hirav Shah concludes by saying, “The hardest thing about setting goals is often just simply “getting down to business!” It’s often too easy to push aside the task which is important but not urgent. However, the New Year is a great time to reflect on the old and prepare for the new, so why not make an appointment with yourself today to create the goals that will see you achieve your dreams.”
