How to Create SPECIFIC Goals for the New Year

Millions of Americans make New Year's resolutions each year, but the real issue is whether or not the resolutions are kept and the goals achieved. The more specific your goals are, the more likely you are to attain those goals. Incorporating the SPECIFIC goal method will help you to overcome roadblocks that prevent goal achievement. It's not enough to set a goal; you have to tackle it and make it a reality. Ensure that your goals are specific, purposeful, aligned with long-term desires, simple, clear, focused, documented, manageable and action-oriented.

Instructions

Getting Started

1. Make a list of ideas and actions that excite and motivate you. List the things you want to achieve in the upcoming year. When you brainstorm, write down any and all ideas that surface. Make sure to be diverse and consider all of the different areas of your life, such as spiritual, personal, career, fun, interaction with others, increasing wealth, and areas to clean up clutter and "stuff." Goal-setting should be focused, simple, and specific to what you personally want to achieve.

2. Keep your goals simple, focus and prioritize. You will find it easier to stay on track if you can focus on a few key goals. If you have multiple goals, prioritize and reduce the number to no more than three goals per area. Now, identify what you want to achieve in one to five years and make sure your goals align with those aspirations.

3. Commit to saying "no" and delegating more often. Review your goals and determine what you need to give up in your life in order to create the time and space to achieve your goals. Do this by committing to say "no" more often to the activities that divert you from your objectives. Consider your daily task list and force yourself to delegate some of those tasks that could keep you from achieving your goals.

SPECIFIC Goal-Setting Method

1. 

   Identify spiritual goals for the new year.

   Set spiritual goals (S = Spiritual). There is a close connection between spiritual goal-orientation and continual motivation and fulfillment. According to Christianity Today, fulfillment resides with the motive in the goal. Identify up to three spiritual goals for the upcoming year. Consider incorporating some of the following as you develop this section of your goals: commitment to daily quiet time, reading scripture, regular church attendance, community service and outreach, and helping others.

2. 

   Create time to relax and achieve personal goals.

   Set personal and emotional goals (P = Personal and E = Emotional). Give attention to both the personal and emotional goals that are aligned with your long-term objectives. Incorporate up to three personal and emotional goals into your goal-setting strategy. Examples of personal and emotional goals are taking up a new hobby or activity, getting more rest, exercising, eating healthier, adding more leisure time, reading a good book, taking vitamins daily, taking a vacation and increased travel, having a picnic, playing an instrument, or watching a good movie.

3. 

   Career growth and new knowledge pays off.

   Set career growth goals (C = Career Growth). Identify precise career growth goals and consider enhancing your knowledge in your particular field. Apply some of the following career growth options: conduct research in your personal areas of expertise, become more computer literate, attend a conference on leadership or other skills, learn a computerized software, job shadow an executive for a week, contemplate continuing education or night school, or maybe even apply for an online degree.

4. 

   Do what is fun for you and make these activities a priority.

   Set interaction and fun goals (I = Interaction and F = Fun). Your interaction goals should focus on ways to better nurture and improve your interaction with your family and friends. Set goals that will help to improve your relationship with your spouse and children and as a result will facilitate developing these relationships to a greater depth. Learn to enjoy yourself by identifying the activities that are the most fun for you and then making the time to do them. Humor and laughter also have a lot of health benefits.

5. Set goals to increase wealth (I = Increase Wealth). Because wealth is more than just a state of mind, determine what personal financial goals you want to achieve. Key areas to explore in regard to increasing wealth include budgeting, savings, eliminating debt, investing, and monitoring net worth. Write down the most important areas of focus for the upcoming year.

6. 

   Take the time to clean up messes and purge unused items.

   Set goals to clean up chaos and clutter (C = Clean Up Chaos and Clutter). Identify and determine which areas of clutter are the most important for you to purge and clean up for the upcoming year. Make a list of clean-up goals and work by room or area if it is the home. Clear out the clutter gradually rather than all at once.

Tips & Warnings

• Clarify what you want to achieve in each goal area.

• Create a plan of action through specific goal identification.

• Take action.

References

• My New Years Resolution: Top 5 New Years Resolutions for 2010
• Proactive Change: Research: Statistics on New Years Resolutions
• Christianity Today: Our Calling, Our Spheres
• Home Organize It: Setting Organizing Goals