Setting goals for 2021
Happy New Year!
The start of a new year, and particularly the start of 2021, is the perfect time to pause and reflect. With all the challenges that 2020 bought us came a lot of growth and learning too. So now is the prime opportunity to apply those new learnings to 2021. Ask yourself:
What did you learn in 2020?
What are your overall intentions for 2021?
What are your goals for 2021?
While setting New Years’ resolutions can be fun, we all know they tend to wear off pretty quickly. A better approach is to set two or three specific goals that are important to you and that align with your values and intentions for the year ahead.
As highlighted in this article, Goal setting in the face of uncertainty, by Elizabeth Grace Saunders, setting goals for 2021 might feel quite strange given how much uncertainty we face in the world. Many of us are still reeling from all the things we planned to do in 2020 that we couldn’t, which can make setting new goals quite scary.
However, in the face of uncertainty, goal setting will give you a sense of control and purpose that can help you to weather the challenges of living with ambiguity. And, if you set yourself a higher-level intention or two for the year that is not reliant on settings you can’t control (like borders reopening or vaccines being rolled out) you are more likely to be successful. This will help you to feel a sense of meaning and connection with what you hope to achieve out of 2021, regardless of what happens out in the world during the year ahead.
For example, if one of your life values is connection, you may decide that one of your intentions for 2021 is to be more closely connected to your family. Within this you might set a goal of remaining in regular contact with your parents and siblings, and you might achieve this through weekly zoom calls with them throughout the year.
When setting goals, it is important to make sure they are ones you are committed to, and will make progress on. Otherwise you can be setting yourself up for a feeling of failure when your goals are out of reach. The SMART goal framework is a useful way of making sure your goals tick all the boxes, i.e. goals that are specific, that you can measure progress against, that are achievable and realistic (tip, try not to set goals that rely on factors beyond your control), and that have a clear timeframe for completion.
And of course, this doesn’t stop at setting goals. Once you have your goals in place, you need to monitor your progress. For example, if your goal for 2021 is to live a healthier lifestyle, you might decide to see your GP for quarterly check ups throughout the year. Or you might like to tell your friends that you won’t be having those Friday night wines anymore. Involving other people is a really good way to keep yourself accountable.
So, take a moment now to reflect on what 2020 taught you, and what your goals and intentions are for 2021. Ask yourself, what do I want to achieve in 2021? And why? Is important enough to me that I will stick to it?
Use the SMART goal framework to break your goals down into specifics and consider sharing your goals with friends and family.
Let’s go!