The end of the year is fast approaching. How happy were you with your year in 2018? What were your accomplishments? What areas do you want to improve on next year? Before you start setting goals for the new year, take the time for an assessment of your 2018. List at least one accomplishment in each of the six goal areas. Keep a positive focus to celebrate your accomplishments, and use those to help plan your perfect year in 2019.
Plan Your Perfect Year Today!
My new goal book/journal for 2019 arrived last week. I plan to block out about 90 minutes to customize the book for me and lay it out for 2019. Over the past 30 years, I have kept a goal book and regularly updated and monitored. I believe this has helped me accomplish many of my life goals and stay balanced and focused.
To set up the book, divide it into 6 categories.
The categories I use are:
- Social
- Spiritual
- Intellectual
- Physical
- Family
- Financial
By splitting the goals in this manner, it helps you stay balanced in the important areas of your life and not obsessed with just a couple of categories like financial or family.
Take each category and break out by these time frames:
- 3 years out: Dec 31, 2021
- 2 years out: December 31, 2020
- 1 year out: Dec. 31, 2019
- June 30, 2019
- March 31, 2019
How To Keep On-Track with Your Goal Book/Journal:
1. Start filling out your goal book one category at a time.
Your inclination to plan your perfect year is to start with the most immediate date, March 31, 2019. Instead, start with the furthest out date December 31, 2021. This helps you visualize the future time span for each goal. Next, write your goals for two years out December 31 2020, then back up to the 2019 goal timeframes. A couple of bullets for each area should be sufficient. I add my age at each point in the future. It helps me visualize my life, as it will be for me.
2. Go live with your book.
At the beginning of each month list a couple of items you want to accomplish for each of the 6 goal areas. As you go through the month, record your accomplishments. Keep a gratitude page and write down the areas and people you are grateful.
3. Each week, list a few items you want to accomplish for the week.
This is not a TO DO list. Several days throughout the week, as your time permits, list a couple of items you want to accomplish that day.
4. Find a book for you to record this information.
You may have a favorite calendar which will work for you. I found a journal that works for my routines, and I’ve been using it for the last 30 years.
Here are some other planners, as each attacks life from a different perspective, so take a look to see which style fits you best!
Goal Getter Productivity Journal, $8
If all of this has your head swimming realizing the answers to the questions above are not something you’re attune to, then take a look at the following options to refocus the mind and spirit. Getting to know you, and the you you’d like to be can require a little soul searching, and luckily these books have made that a fun, creative journey that happens to include a bit of a coloring-book structure. “Adult Coloring Books” have become a staple in many people’s lives, as it is proven that spending time coloring can reduce stress, anxiety and retrain the brain while exercising the brain, as well!
Good Days Start With Gratitude: A 52 Week Guide To Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude, $6
Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration, $10
Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are, $13
Notice: the term NEW YEARS RESOLUTION has not been used in this article. This is no resolution; this is your life plan. One of my mottos is
“Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
Enjoy the ride and make every day matter. With good planning and focus, you can make 2019 the best year of your life.
Happy New Year!
