Secret sauce to spice up 2017 goals

A week ago, I was having a conversation with a friend about 2017. As it invariably does, the chat turned to what we had planned for the New Year and our resolutions. However, when he shared his list, I was left in awe.

 In comparison, my list of what I want to achieve in 2017 looked like child’s play. I have for a number of years now stated that I do not create New Year resolutions based on the calendar year as I find that this doesn’t hold much meaning for me.

Statistics also show that close to 90 per cent of resolutions are forgotten by the end of March. There is a right and a wrong way of setting goals for ourselves and the secret sauce is in finding what works for you.

Know thyself

My temptation to lengthen my to do list is representative of how we let ourselves get mired in comparisons with others without considering whether it’s aligned with what we are about. Every time we speak of resolutions, there are always some people who will declare that they have 20 items they intend to get done and dusted by the end of the year.

In reality, few people follow up on their true goals to the end. It makes more sense to truly understand what your goals mean for you and then break them down into steps that you can track in a more meaningful way.

Accountability

One of the most effective ways to hit your goals is by finding an accountability partner whose intentions are aligned with yours in specific areas. This has been proven to keep us going when it gets tough to make wise choices and stay the course.

Ripple effect

Certain goals have a ripple effect for me. Leading a healthy lifestyle is one of them for me. I find that when I go to the gym for my workouts, I have a higher likelihood of making healthy food choices and keeping active. Another one is gratitude journaling. For some reason, this encourages me to be more positive in my outlook and in my self-speak. Identify which these are for you and work on getting better at them.