My 2019 Goals (& how I’m setting goals differently this year!)

See my 2019 goals and how I’m goal setting differently this year.

So here we are — another year and another chance for a fresh start.

Sure it’s just a date on the calendar, but I love the emotional momentum behind everyone starting over at the same time.

Plus, setting priorities and goals for the new year means that I will actually accomplish something besides working through my watch list on Netflix!

Before I thought about my goals for this year, I took time to review my goals from last year (read about that HERE). During the process, I realized that I have some problem areas, which made me begin to reassess how I’m goal setting and why I chose the goals that I chose.

As I was thinking about why some of my goals didn’t work I heard an interview with Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and The Four Tendencies, which reminded me that in order to accomplish our goals, we need to know ourselves really well. (You can find the free Four Tendencies Quiz at GretchenRubin.com.)

My tendency is definitely Rebel, meaning that I rebel against any externally imposed standards or regulations — even if I’m the one imposing them. I have to want to do something for my own reasons and then I’m able to accomplish the goal.

This means that if I set a goal to NOT do something, I will automatically do that thing. Or if I set a goal to do something, I will probably sabotage myself.

It’s inevitable.

And super annoying.

So I realized that doing what the experts say to do, which is to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, doesn’t really work for me.

And I need to own that and be okay with it.

How My 2019 Goals Will Be Different

So with all of that being said, my plan for this year is different.

Questions, Not Demands

Instead of placing demands on myself like some kind of hostage taker, I will be asking myself some questions:

• What will I be happy that I did at the end of the day/week/month/year?
• How can I love myself better so that I can fulfill my purpose and mission?

I will be using vision statements for each life area rather than “goals” (listed below).

Highlighting My Word of the Year

I will also be highlighting my Word of the Year. Choosing an Inspired Word of the Year has dramatically changed my life over the past six years and helped me to have a focus for the year even if I fail on some of my specific goals.

See How to Choose a Word of the Year HERE.

Focusing on Habits First

I know (and research has proven) that changing our daily habits is the quickest way to change our lives. I will be focusing on continuing and in some cases, beginning new habits to support my vision.

Checking My Monthly Vision Boards Daily

I did very well with completing my monthly vision boards in my Joyful Life Playbook, but I did not look at them as often as I should have during the month. I realized that I need to see my vision and goals all the time so I can stay focused on what I want to accomplish.

My 2019 Goals

So now, drumroll please: my “goals”/vision for this year:

My Spirit

Vision: Constantly Spiritually Connected

Habits:

• daily morning brain dump, journaling and prayer session
• tech-free mornings
• read the Bible daily
• pray throughout the day

My Physical Health

Vision: Healthily Energized

Habits:

• walk vigorously at least 25 minutes daily
• do exercise videos when I feel inspired (no pressure)
• eat protein for breakfast daily
• try to eat gluten free and low carb most of the time (allowing myself a cheat day, maybe two each week)
• drink 6-8 glasses of water daily
• go to bed by 10 pm without my phone
• do art work in front of the tv instead of eating

My Emotional/Mental Health

Vision: Joyfully Content

Habits:

• art journal when I feel like it
• laugh daily (watch funny videos or read funny blogs/books)
• spend time in nature at least once a week
• play with my dog daily
• weekly counseling

I have decided that after several traumas in our family in the past couple of years including my oldest daughter being hit by a speeding mini van while bicycling;  my being involved in a hit-and-run accident in which my car was totaled; and one of my children dealing with some serious health issues, I need to get some help to deal with the emotions of it all. So for the next few months I will be seeing a counselor on a weekly basis.

So there you have it — my “goals” for this year, or as they say in Pirates of the Caribbean,”They’re mostly guidelines.”

I would love to hear about your plans for the new year, so please leave a comment below.

Let’s Make This Year Fabulous!

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