Goal Setting in The New Year
We’re building a life that we love here, folks, not just a series of disappointing years.
I want to talk about goal setting. This is probably as good a time as any, with January (finally) coming to an end. They say most people abandon their New Year’s resolution by mid January, so maybe this will serve as the boost you need to keep going.
In recent years, I’ve made it a point to set a few year-end goals for myself. I usually write them down in my notes app so that I have something to reference back to. In 2019 I focused on numbers-based goals. I wanted to save X amount of money, gain X amount of weight in the gym, etc., etc. I found that it was useful for me to work toward something that was quantifiable. In other years, my goals have been more long term, or abstract things, like developing an appreciation for wine, or getting more in touch with my creativity (check!).
In 2020, one of my goals was to start learning to sew. I got sewing supplies as Christmas gifts, set up my machine and kit at home, and took a sewing class in February (I made pillow case. It’s awesome.) In this sense, I kind of got lucky. Being out of work for the majority of the year gave me plenty of time to dive into new things I’d wanted to try for a long time. And sewing masks was great practice, of course. Sewing went from this far away skill that I’d never been near enough to learn, and became something I had access to and grew comfortable with. I’m still not at the level I’d like to be, but I have a foundation to build on because I set the goal and made moves to achieve it.
Another of my goals, which has been on the list for several years, was to buy more local goods. This is something that I’m continuously working on, especially as it becomes easier and easier to order things from Amazon on a whim. I’m getting better, though. I quit shopping at fast fashion retailers (a big step), I’ve bought local vintage decor online, and I’ve been slowly working on shopping at a food co-op for groceries. Even though this is something I’m still working on, I feel like I’ve made huge strides in the right direction.
Some people say that New Years resolutions are pointless. Why create some unachievable goal just to feel disappointed in yourself at the end of the year because you didn't achieve it? My solution is to set goals that you’ll enjoy working towards. If you don’t achieve your goal by the end of the year, no biggie. Just evaluate whether that goal is something you still want to achieve, and if so, keep working on it next year. We’re building a life that we love here, folks, not just a series of disappointing years.
Having actually accomplished a goal, albeit in a small way, gave me a sense of momentum to continue pursuing it, and to set new goals to build upon what I’ve already achieved. This year, a lot of my goals are around the idea of creative curation. I’m focusing on defining/honing my tastes and styles in art and fashion. If I hadn’t accomplished my goals of learning to sew or finding new ways to shop, I wouldn’t have the same level of knowledge and appreciation for quality clothing and home goods as I do now. Because of my small accomplishment, I’m able to build on that appreciation and create new goals based on it. And I’m looking forward to continuing the work!
Sometimes, we think of an achievement as something that either happens or doesn't. We very rarely view the journey and work as part of the achievement itself. That’s when year-end goals become a frustrating sore spot. I say it’s time we take pride in the process. Even if we don’t meet our ideal weight, or finish our screenplay, or run a marathon, we can be proud of ourselves for putting in the effort. We can be proud of the 10 pounds we lost, even if five of them came back. We can be proud of the 15 pages we managed to suffer through writing. And we can be proud of ourselves for running a 5K instead.
The important thing is to understand that we haven’t failed. We just needed more time than we gave ourselves. We just need to keep going.
happy sunday. 🌞
What are Sundays for if not a refreshing daytime cocktail with a side of conversation?
Think of this newsletter as a Sunday brunch with friends, a space where we unwind from the past week, and gear up for the week ahead.
If you’re liking sunday brunch, think of three friends who would enjoy and share it with them.