No. 50. How to set intentional goals in 2023
No. 50. How to set intentional goals in 2023
Five tips to actually set & achieve goals that truly matter to you
We’re getting to that time of year when people start thinking about what 2023 will look like: some set goals, others make new year’s resolutions. Statistics show that after 6 months, only 46 percent of people are successful in keeping their resolutions, and by the end of the year, only 9 percent feel like they achieved the resolutions they made back in January.
Personally, for the last few years, I’ve been using PowerSheets to set annual goals, and it is a system that works for me. A bit different than new year’s resolutions, PowerSheets ask you to think about the legacy you want to leave and where you want to be when you’re 80. This helps you figure out what truly matters to you and then work backwards to set goals and action steps that you can take this year to work towards that big picture vision. You then have monthly, weekly and daily sections to break down your goals even further.
But, there are so many other great resources out there on goal setting, so find a system that works best for you. If you don’t want to invest in PowerSheets, the creator of this planner< Lara Casey, does an annual series on her blog where she walks through all the prompts on how to set intentional goals that matter to you: here is last year’s series with her goals as an example.
Here are five tips I’ve picked up over the years for intentional goal setting (and actually achieving your goals):
Know your why
To me, rooting goals in purpose makes all the difference, because you’re not just randomly making resolutions to lose weight but instead there is a deeper “why” behind the changes you want to make.
This is the key to intentional goal setting: you have to know where you’re going and why in order to truly accomplish your goals. Because your goals can’t be someone else’s goals - they have to be deeply personal to you for it to matter enough to make it happen.
Prayer is a big part of this - I truly believe that you can’t set goals without praying about it first. I once heard someone describe goal setting this way: before you start, take everything you do that is on your plate and set it down before the Lord, and then ask Him with an open heart what you should pick back up, and what you should let go of. Because we can make our plans, but the Lord establishes our steps (Proverbs 16:9), so make sure you’re going where God is leading you in each season.
A man's steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way? -Proverbs 20:24
Here are some other tips on mapping out your big vision.
Focus on one thing
We often set too many goals, and in the end, we end up achieving none of them. So, this year, focus on 1-3 goals. Or, maybe choose one goal in each area of your life (there may be overlap between different areas): family, spiritual, work, health, finances, etc.
Alternatively, you can choose one goal per quarter, which allows you to tailor your goals to the season you’re in. Or, you can break down a bigger goal into smaller quarterly or monthly goals.
The less goals you have and the more focused they are, the more likely you are to achieve them, so narrow down what you truly want to accomplish or become in the next year.
Keep a visual tracker
This helps me so much! If you’re the kind of person who enjoys checking off your list, then you need an accountability tracker. Put it up on your fridge, keep it on your desk or there are even apps for this, but find a way to track how many days of the week and month you actually do or work on your goal.
Want to get healthy? Check off how many days you move for 30 minutes or how much water you drink each day. Want to write a book? Track how many words you write each day or week. Want to pay off debt? Print one of these debt payoff trackers and color it in as you make progress.
And if you’re a visual learner, it also helps me to have my goals (or images describing my goals or the why behind my goals) displayed in a visible place (my computer or phone background, a bulletin board in my office, etc). Having that regular reminder of your goals and your why helps a lot too!
Create sustainable habits and systems
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there. This year, spend less time focusing on outcomes and more time focusing on the habits that precede the results.” -James Clear
Habits and systems are crucial for accomplishing your goals. If you haven’t yet read Atomic Habits, go get this book now. There is a reason it is a best seller - it provides so much insight on how we can actually accomplish what you set your mind to. Goals are important, but the reason most people aren’t successful in achieving their goals and new year’s resolutions is that they don’t have daily habits and systems in place to help them achieve those goals.
For example, if you want to lose weight, habits and systems that can be helpful to lose weight include striving to develop daily habits like walking 10,000 steps or a weekly goal of exercising 3 times a week. Systems - or processes that you follow each day - could include laying out your workout clothes before bed or scheduling workouts.
Little by little adds up
We often claim we don't have time to do certain things, especially when it comes to spiritual disciplines like Bible study or prayer, but this article on how to build spiritual habits in just a few minutes is a great read to show that you actually do have the time.
And if you skip a day, or a month, if the goal truly matters to you, get back to it. Sometimes, we think that if a goal isn’t grand enough or doesn’t happen fast enough, then it means we should give up. But, even doing something for 5, 10 or 15 minutes a day, every day adds up to major change over time. Don’t discount small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10).
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. -Proverbs 21:5
How do you approach goal setting and new year’s resolutions?
What do you want to accomplish and focus on in 2023?
P.S. How women can better excel in the corporate world is a passion of mine. I’m currently working on an online course on this topic, so if any of this resonated with you, come join the wait list to be the first to hear when the course is ready!
This week’s favorites
Instagram Use, InstaMums, and Anxiety in Mothers of Young Children (Study)
This study has some interesting insights on the correlation between anxiety and online engagement with mom influencers on Instagram.
Childcare, housekeeper, and a personal assistant: Women are paying big bucks for support at home in order to reach the C-Suite (Article)
This is an interesting read on the role paid help plays in the lives of women who rise up the ranks in the corporate world. For example, the article mentions a recent poll of 400 women who identified as managers, directors, VPs, C-suite executives, or founders found that nearly two-thirds of working women in the U.S. with at least one direct report pay for some type of hired help (e.g., childcare, cleaning services, personal trainers, grocery delivery services, etc.) with an average monthly cost of $500 per month. At the VP and C-suite level, that jumps to 75% of women having paid help. In my opinion, this is something we don't talk about often enough or with enough transparency.