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New Year, New Goals

New GoalsAs the new year draws closer, it brings with it a fresh opportunity to set new goals you can focus on in 2019. While you may be fully prepared with the same, generic goals you’ve set each year, it may be time to revamp those aspirations and dig a bit deeper this time around.

Let’s head into 2019 stronger than ever before by paying closer attention to what is truly important and setting goals that relate to those aspects of our lives. While you may have heard the term before, let’s take a look at the benefits of setting SMART goals.

We’ll also review some specific ideas on how you can separate your goals into categories that will make them easier to accomplish than ever before!

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

If you want to avoid being one of the millions of people who have either forgotten or given up on their resolutions by March, you’ll need to place a special emphasis on setting SMART goals.

Specific

When you’re unsure of exactly what you want to accomplish, it can be easy to set vague goals with the hope that you’ll eventually get to a point that you’re happy with. This tactic can leave you grasping at straws and never realizing if you’ve actually reached your end goal. Instead, determine specific details for each goal that are clear and have an evident purpose.

Measurable

Just as they should be specific, each goal should also be measurable both during and after it has been accomplished. One of the key factors to staying motivated is seeing progress, making it vital that you be able to monitor your efforts. Set key dates, timelines, and specific amounts depending on the desired end result of your goal.

Achievable

While some people like to shoot for the moon with their goals, they often become discouraged when seeing the slow progress and feel as though they will never reach the target. It is much more efficient to set small goals that can be accomplished in a shorter period of time, which act as stepping stones toward a larger objective.

Relevant

Your goals absolutely must be relevant to the direction you want your personal and professional life to go. If you simply set sporadic goals you find suggested on the internet or get from others, they won’t truly help you become the person you want to be. This is arguably the most important step in setting your goals. Ensure they mean something to you on a personal level.

Time-based Just as in a professional setting, your goals need to have a deadline or due date you are striving to meet. Without a set timeframe, it is easy to become lax in your efforts and even forget about the goal altogether. Set a date and even tell someone about it to assure that you are held accountable.

Categorize Your Goals

People often set outlandish goals such as reaching milestones far out of range or losing an unrealistic amount of weight in a short period of time. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by goals when you set a large number of them around only one topic like work or health. To give yourself a good balance, try splitting a set amount of goals up into three separate categories: mental, physical, and spiritual.

Mental Goals

In just about every business industry, your mind is your most vital asset. And keeping it sharp is crucial to finding and maintaining success. There are numerous directions you can go with goals for developing your mental health.

  • Read a book before bed instead of scrolling through your social media newsfeed.
  • Take an online course each month to further your education in your field of work.
  • Start writing your thoughts and life stories in a journal.
  • Spend one day alone each month to focus on yourself.

Physical Goals

Your physical health can have both positive and negative effects on many other aspects of your life including energy levels, your ability to focus, and more. By paying close attention to your health and taking care of your body, you can see benefits in more ways than simply losing weight or feeling better.

  • Go to the gym a set amount of days each week.
  • Get out of the house and go for a run every morning before getting ready for work.
  • Set up a healthy eating regimen and try meal prepping.
  • Drink more herbal tea and water instead of coffee and soda.

Spiritual Goals

Depending on your beliefs, these can also be considered emotional goals as well. It can be the most difficult for some people to set and define spiritual goals as it takes a good deal of self-reflection and discovering more about your inner thoughts or feelings. For lack of a better term, it is truly about “finding yourself”.

  • Start meditating each morning before work. You can also meditate during or after work, as needed.
  • Find a religious or spiritual organization to join and attend regular meetings.
  • Determine a creative outlet you enjoy such as writing, drawing, or playing an instrument and focus on developing that talent.
  • Volunteer in your local community once or twice a month as a way to help others less fortunate than yourself.

Start Setting Your New Goals

These are only a few ideas to get you started. Take some time to also ponder professional goals to help you progress in your work setting. As you set these new goals and keep them SMART, you’ll discover new possibilities and find greater success as you grow into larger roles.

Is one of your goals to find a new job? Feel free to send us your resume, so we can help you! We’re always seeking new recruits for tech, HR, and finance jobs. Our team can help you get prepped for interviews and find your new long-term career!

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