Well, it's that time of the year again. Goals are a mixed bag: on the one hand, they give you something to shoot for, yet on the other, sometimes they're just something to make you feel guilty. Every year I like to set just a few, very specific, goals, realistic things that I commit myself to. For 2008, for example, my goal was to have a published book by the end of the year. And here it is!
So, how do you set goals? This is my usual routine:
First, I figure out what I want my life to look like next year. Nothing elaborate, but one or two basic things. The best goals are those with a realistic, specific outcome; for example, for 2009 I want to complete drafts of two manuscripts. Don't set your goal outcome to be something beyond your control e.g. to win that award -- instead make it that you will meet all deadlines, and work X amount of time, and produce Y output, to enter the contest.
Next, break the goal down: all of the steps that will be necessary to complete this goal. Then, divide the steps up into 12 months. Determine how much output on a weekly basis you need to do in order to meet this goal.
Some helpful tips to keeping goals are:
1. make sure this is a goal you REALLY want, not something that you think you *should* do but you won't stick with.
2. This is the most important step. If you do nothing else, do this one:
WRITE YOUR GOAL DOWN!
WRITE YOUR GOAL DOWN!
WRITE YOUR GOAL DOWN!
3. keep a log in a notebook or on the computer that you write in weekly or preferably more often. Write down how you've met your output for the week, other problems that have cropped up, and how you'll need to manage them -- all the notes to help keep you on track.
4. Remind yourself why it's important to accomplish this goal. Write it down periodically.
5. Every time you've met a weekly or small goal, take a moment to tell yourself you did a good job! If it's something bigger, maybe you can go out to dinner or watch a movie or do something else for fun.
6. If possible, find an accountability partner who will (nicely) ask you how you're doing.
So, what are some of your goals? Have you met your goals in the past? How did you do it?
~happy new year, my dear friends~
