I love the sense of a fresh start and feeling of a new beginning that January brings, but I’m not sure about New Year’s resolutions.  Don’t get me wrong, I think setting yourself a challenge and changing an aspect of your life for the better is fantastic.  I do wonder though how many people set an unrealistic resolution in January, only to have given up and forgotten about it by February, perhaps trundling through the rest of the year feeling slightly disillusioned, until repeating the cycle when feeling the excess of Christmas and the wake-up call of January 1^st?  Probably quite a few.  A gradual, consistent approach to making changes can be more lasting.  It’s also a wonderful way of staying in touch with your lifestyle, your values and your dreams. 

During my inpatient neuro-rehab admissions, I began each week with a goal setting meeting with my team.  We reflected on the previous week and looked ahead to the week to come.  What were we hoping to achieve and how were we going to do it?  These were SMART goals (Specific, Measured, Achievable, Relevant and Timed), an acronym commonly used in both rehab and business settings.  At times these meetings felt incredibly frustrating, sometimes totally overwhelming, but they worked.  I took the practice home and I’ve continued to set myself weekly goals ever since.  I sit with my diary and notebook, reflecting on where I’m at and where I’m heading.  It gives me focus and momentum.  It helps me prioritise how I use my time and energy.  It gives me satisfaction when I know I’ve accomplished something, however small.  The little steps add up.  I get things done.

Have you set yourself a New Year’s resolution?  Maybe that’s your long-term goal?  Could you break it down to make it easier for yourself?  Here are some ideas that may help.  There’s more information on the ‘Making Changes’ page in My Toolbox here.

• Set targets – consider short, medium and long-term goals.
• Be specific – what exactly is your goal?  How will you get there?  How will you know when you’ve achieved it?  Add as much detail as possible.
• Add meaning – why do you want to achieve your goal?  Does it fit with the life you want to create for yourself?  Does it inspire you and make you happy?
• Make it personal – it’s your goal, nobody else’s.
• Break it down – find a level that feels comfortable and realistic, whilst giving you a push forward.
• Write it down – clarify what you want to achieve.  Take pleasure in ticking it off once you’re done.
• Tell somebody – make yourself accountable by sharing your plan.  You’re far more likely to achieve your goal if you do.
• Visualise it – how will you feel when you’ve achieved your goal?  How will your life have changed?  You could create a vision board of inspiring pictures and words to keep you motivated.
• Pace yourself – be realistic about what time and energy you have to spend on your goal.  It’s better to gradually chip away at it than to try doing everything at once.
• Review your goal – do you need to make any changes?  It’s helpful to be flexible.

So that’s one of my goals for the week very much enjoyed and ticked off – good luck with yours!