Goal Overload
Goal-setting can be overwhelming at any age. Especially at the beginning of the year, there seems to be endless pressure to set new, lofty goals.
But where do you start? Use the steps below to guide you through the goal setting process with a little less anxiety and a little more efficiency:
Brain Dump:
Think about the pillars of your life: academic, professional, personal, social, etc. Write a list of as many relevant topics that you might want to set goals for in each category. Just write it all down in no particular order. Consider: What went well in 2022? Where could you show more growth in 2023?
Priorities First:
After you write everything down, go back through your list and highlight the ideas that stand out to you as a priority. Don’t overdo it; think hard about what is most important to you right now and why. These are the chosen ones and will be your goals for 2023.
Make them SMART:
Remember, once you have a general goal, it is important to ensure it is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Based. This acronym is a great way to develop realistic goals rather than just ideas from a brainstorm.
It’s a Marathon:
Each year is 12 whole months and 365 days! Once you have created SMART goals, consider breaking them down even further. Picture yourself training for a marathon. Likely, you won’t be able to wake up one day and run a full 26.2 miles. Instead, you might need to start by simply putting on your sneakers or going for a walk.
You should think through each of your goals with this same mindset. What are the smaller steps you need to take in order to reach your finish line? What roadblocks might you encounter? How will you overcome them? Start small.
Set a Reminder:
Whether digitally using an app or in your new, sparkly, paper calendar, be sure to set regular reminders to check-in with yourself and your goals. Re-evaluate and revise as you go, if needed. Priorities and circumstances change with every season; reflecting regularly is just as important as setting and achieving goals.