Tips for Setting Realistic Goals After the Holidays

This message is for everyone who spent their holidays coming up with an absolutely perfect plan to achieve all of their goals, and now, finds life rudely intruding on those plans: When we plan for the future, our tendency is to imagine a simple and straightforward path. You imagine the steps you’ll take toward your goal, how they’ll flow smoothly from one to the next, and how that will lead to the result that you hope for. We forget that that's not the way that things go in real life. In truth, achieving a goal is anything but simple and straightforward. If we were kinder to ourselves, this wouldn’t be a big deal. You would pause, try to learn from it, and then move on. Instead, here's how most of us react:  1️⃣ You compare your human self to your imagined perfect plan. 2️⃣ You are cruel to yourself. In your mind, this setback shows you are not good enough—this is the evidence that you’ll never be able to change and this shows that you are utterly flawed (just as you always suspected!) 3️⃣ You're hurt by this cruelty. It affects your self-confidence, courage, and determination, demotivating you. 4️⃣ You stop trying or quit. You can break this cycle. Start here: you are a human being. That means you will mess up. You’ll feel bored with your goal. You’ll wonder if you really want it or not. Some days will feel like a huge drag. Other priorities will arise on a regular basis: your kid will get sick, your mom needs help, the roof starts to leak. There will be times when you are tired and need a break. Stop treating your humanity like it is a liability, when it is actually your greatest strength. Here are three ways to put this idea into practice: ∙ Incorporate reality into your plans: Your humanity is not a flaw to fix, but a reality to consider. If you accepted yourself as you are, and accepted life as it really is, how would you plan to achieve this goal?  ∙ If thing don’t go as planned, speak kindly to yourself. When you have a setback, ask yourself: "This happens sometimes. What do I need right now to move forward?" ∙ Tap into your best qualities to move forward: We humans have our flaws, yes. But we also have many gifts, and one of them is our incredible ability to get up and try again tomorrow. When things don’t go as planned, you can pause, try to learn from it, then wake up tomorrow and keep trying.

Renewal. It’s 2024 and we get to start over. While it is just a calendar date change, and you’re the same person as yesterday, the changing of the year is significant. It’s the chance for a fresh start. For me, it’s a time to recommit. To a purposeful and productive life, to improving myself, and helping others. At age 50, I’ve worked hard for everything to get this point, and the struggle to “prove myself” is over. It’s a great feeling. But challenges remain. These include: Battling complacency. Staying disciplined. Finding areas to refine. Acquiring new skills. Avoiding becoming a grumpy old man. Which means: Continually learning. Improving my health. Staying creative. And focusing on others’ needs, not just my own. This past week during some much-needed downtime I went back and reviewed my 2023 accomplishments. I keep a daily (M-F) gratitude journal, short, bulleted entries that I can review in a few hours. And then started on 2024 goal-setting. Finishing that this week. Here’s a couple suggestions if you’re working on goals (aka, New Year’s resolutions) like so many: ·      Take the time to review your 2023 accomplishments. You probably don’t realize how much you did over the last year, and it will put you in an optimistic mindset. ·      Set tangible goals. Aim high(ish) but realistic. Even if you fall short you’ll have made huge progress. ·      Keep your goals handy, on your desktop or tacked near your work station. Out of sight, out of mind. ·      Break down your goals into the smallest possible steps. Trying to eat the whole elephant is not a good recipe for success (and you shouldn’t eat an elephant anyway, even with a good recipe). ·      Take the first small step today. Don’t wait. Have a great 2024! I'm rooting for you.

This is for everyone who's been waiting for results to show up. Success takes time. Consistent effort compounds over the long haul. • Set realistic goals • Celebrate small victories • Stay committed for the long term. But advice without examples or action steps is hard to navigate. Let's start with: ➡ Setting realistic goals ✅ Make them trackable. ✅ Make them sustainable. Example: I'm going to run 90 minutes per week. Trackability: 30 minutes 3x per week Or 18 minutes 5x per week. You can break it down any way you like. But which is sustainable to you? If neither is, revise your goal. Otherwise pick one and get to it. ➡ Celebrate small victories ✅ Make it constructive. ✅ Make it meaningful. Example: If I achieve X goal, I will go out to dinner with friends. ➡ Stay committed for the long term ✅ Comes back to sustainability. ✅ Have a strong "why". Example: I want to get in shape to set the right example for my kids. And also to live a long and healthy life for my wife and kids. This is where a smaller goal aligns with a larger, long-term lifestyle or mindset change. Picking a "why" like this can help you through the tough times. And it can continue to motivate you through the entire process. What's your "why"? --- 👋 Follow me for more. ♻️ Repost to help your network level up their goal setting! 💡 Let me know how you stay committed to your goals in the comments!

Want to make a significant change this year? The first step might surprise you. 💙 Accept the present; be happy with where you are. We have a false narrative that if we are content, we'll become complacent. While negative emotion can get us moving, it doesn't usually maintain our motivation. And it drives us to set unrealistic goals and set unrealistic expectations. Let's look at a common example. If you decide to lose weight because you're unhappy with the way you look, you're more likely to get frustrated with slow progress and give up. If you decide to eat healthier for your long-term health, you're more likely to continue toward your goal at a steadier pace. Why? You set more realistic action steps. You judge yourself less harshly. You're less likely to let negative emotions derail your progress. Negative motivations are often rooted in guilt and shame, so although they may initially get us going, they fade (we don't like to sit around in guilt and shame every day!). The "why" behind your goal is important and some are more motivating than others! When we accept things as they are and create a plan for change from a more positive mindset, we're more creative, more consistent, and more likely to see results. How will this change your goal setting for 2024? Happy New Year!

Going through my team's performance reviews this past week, I wanted to share some take-aways that I hope will help YOU. As we stand at the threshold of another year, many of us are inspired to set resolutions and goals. However, the challenge often lies in sticking to these resolutions beyond the initial enthusiasm of January. Here are some practical tips to help us set and achieve our New Year’s resolutions: 1. Be specific – Vague goals like “get fit” or “be more productive” are hard to measure and achieve. Instead, set specific goals like “exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week” or “complete a professional certification by June.” The more specific our goal, the clearer the path to achieving it. 2. Break It Down – Large goals can be overwhelming. Break them into smaller, manageable tasks with short-term milestones. For instance, if our goal is to learn a new language, start with dedicating 15 minutes a day to language learning apps. 3. Celebrate Small Wins – Acknowledge and celebrate our progress, no matter how small. This keeps us motivated and focused on the bigger picture. 4. Focus on Habits – Long-term change often comes from building new habits. Focus on creating daily routines that support our goals. 5.Remember our 'Why' – Keep reminding ourselves why we set these resolutions. A strong, personal reason can be a powerful motivator to keep going. As we set our sights on new ambitions, take a moment to look back at the year that has passed. Celebrate your accomplishments (big or small, they are all part of your journey) Self-reflect on lessons learned and experiences gained, Appreciate those around you and Give grace to yourself and to others. Wishing you all a GREAT 2024! #2024goals #growthmindset

Why I DON'T make #NewYearResolutions 🚫 💪 #BeYourself A Forbes / OnePoll survey once said that about 62%of respondents feel pressured to set a New Year's resolution, with 66% planning on making 3+ goals. 90% of these are abandoned within a few months, highlighting the challenges in maintaining these commitments. My points are fueled both by experience in #psychology and my personal viewpoints, noting that while we should always take risks and try everything effortfully, planning and timing is key. 1. Arbitrary Timing: The tradition of making resolutions on New Year's is arbitrary, and goals can be set at any time. For me, personally, a birthday is a new year, not an arbitrary time. 2. Don't Do it with a Lack of 'Why': #Resolutions often fail because I've found that people focus on what they should do rather than understanding their personal reasons for the goal. 3. Drastic Transformations: Many resolutions fail because they involve significant, sweeping changes. According to #humanpsychology, we aren't all wired for drastic transformations, and setting smaller, more immediate goals is probably better for making a change. Even if goals are met drastically, I always suggest finding a way to manage the more sudden changes in life, even if they are great. 4. Readiness for Change: #Pyschologists #JamesProchaska and #CarloDiClemente came up with the Stages of Change model suggests that successful resolutions are made when individuals are at an action stage, emphasizing the importance of psychological and physical preparation for lasting change. 5. Incremental Changes: Real change requires incremental adjustments, creating habits over time. Instead of grand resolutions, I always suggest setting small milestones throughout the year that can lead to more sustainable transformations. Should they be met ahead of time, by all means celebrate them! 6. Setting Realistic Goals: I'm all about Dream Big. But creating a timeline with small milestones for the year is suggested over setting one large resolution. This approach aligns better with human psychology and increases the likelihood of achieving lasting changes. #HappyNewYear, and happy new day in life.

Constraints and limitations are very useful. Especially in the New Year.       For years, I would use this week to set goals for the year.   It was a fun process, and I’d walk away from it feeling hopeful and energized.   But by the end of the year I’d only accomplished about 20% of my goals.   Ugh! That made me feel like a failure.   The problem eventually became obvious. A full year felt like a long time. So my list of goals was huge ... and way too optimistic.   A few years ago, I shifted to a 90-day goal-setting and planning model. I started setting quarterly goals only.   And because 90 days is much shorter window, I set fewer goals. I had no choice!   My accomplishment rate shot up to over 80%.   The lesson is simple. It’s called. Parkinson’s Law. Work expands to the time you have available to do the work.   So if you find yourself only achieving a fraction of your goals every year, try giving yourself less time.   Move to a quarterly goal-setting and planning model. And watch your results improve.   #GoalSetting #NewYearResolutions #ProductivityTips #PersonalDevelopment #ParkinsonsLaw

Feeling behind on setting goals for the year? Don't worry – it's never too late to start aiming for success. Whether you missed New Year's resolutions or haven't had a chance to plan, remember that every moment offers an opportunity for growth. Here's how to jumpstart your goal-setting journey: ✅ Reflect on Your Priorities Take a moment to figure out what's important to you. Write down three key areas of focus, such as career, health, and relationships. For example, prioritize health by setting a goal to exercise for 30 minutes three times a week. ✅ Set SMART Goals Rather than a broad goal like "spend more time with family," set a specific goal such as "have a weekly family game night every Friday for the next three months." This goal is measurable (weekly game nights), achievable (with scheduling and commitment), relevant to strengthening family bonds, and time-bound (for the next three months). ✅ Take Immediate Action Start taking small steps every day toward your goals. Progress, no matter how tiny, is still progress. Commit to one small action daily, like brainstorming ideas for a project or reaching out to a mentor for guidance. Remember, setting goals and personal growth is an ongoing journey. So, embrace the mindset that it's never too late to start anything. Decide to shape the future you want right now.

As we get back into the office today at Office Dynamics International, I want to talk with you about the importance of setting SMART Goals. We often set New Year's Resolutions that are seldom maintained. The start of the new year often encourages us to want to set new goals. SMART Goals create a framework for us to follow to help us set goals that we can actually reach: Specific: Make clear, precise goals. For instance, attending a particular training or enrolling in a certain course is a lot more specific than saying, "I want to receive more training for my profession." Measurable: Goals should be quantifiable to track progress. If they are not, you will not be able to measure your growth. Achievable: Set realistic and attainable goals. It's good to set the bar higher, but don't make it too lofty that you discourage yourself. Relevant: Your goals need to be relevant to your personal or career aspirations. Time-bound: Goals need a deadline or timeframe so you can hold yourself to a standard and make sure that you are working towards completing them. As administrative professionals, we should always be working towards goals that better ourselves and challenge us to go above and beyond where we are currently at. Your future self will thank you for it.