Selecting goals for the new year

At the start of each new year, many of us find ourselves thinking about goals. Okay, you might call them resolutions, but I try to have goals, which I think are a step up.

A resolution is an “I should.” As in “I should” lose weight, stop smoking, save some money, etc. A goal is a little more specific, and should involve both a concrete action and a measurable result. It takes the “I should” one step farther along to become an “I will.” “I will” lose weight by joining Weight Watchers, stop smoking by getting a patch, save money by putting $100 a month into a savings account….

I’ve been choosing my goals for a lot of years. Some of them I’ve achieved; some I’ve given up on; some I’ve changed. But in the process, I’ve learned four key things about goals.

1. The goals need to be within my control. If I select a goal I have no control over (eg. getting rich by winning a lottery) I’m just asking for disappointment. Whatever I choose to do has to be something I can realistically do.

2. One or two key goals are enough. One of the biggest problems I’ve had is wanting to change everything at once. Trying to eat healthier, get more exercise, join a discussion group, clean my house more often, do my job better, and spend more time with my children all at the same time will leave me frazzled, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Sooner or later, I’ll throw up my hands and quit trying. It’s much better for me to have one or two key goals and then add another when those have been accomplished.

3. The goals need to be small enough to achieve without major stress in the time allowed. When I try to make a large change quickly, I usually wind up depressed and mad at myself because I can’t do. Sure, it would be great to lose twenty pounds in a couple of months, but it’s not only more manageable but also healthier to lose it slowly, maybe one pound a week. It’s the old tortoise and the hare story. Slow but steady wins the race. Lots of small steps are more likely to get you there than a few giant leaps.

4. Setting goals always come down to making choices. You can’t get away from it. When you choose to do one thing, you automatically choose not to do something else. If you decide to lose weight, you can’t eat a box of chocolates every day. If you work full time and have a family, your house won’t be a showplace. So you have to decide what is more important to you and choose that as your goal. None of us can have it all.