4 Must-Have Goals for The New Year
Every year is full of new opportunities. So what would it look like for this coming year to far exceed the potential, growth and success of last year? Making this new year better than the past year doesn’t happen without intentionality. Failing to goal-set makes progress far more difficult to achieve. Instead, we have to set strategic targets for ourselves and work to achieve those goals.
Every year I sit down and brainstorm goals for the year ahead. I aim to think through all areas of my life and make SMART goals. Often times, my wife and I sit down and share our personal goals as well as develop some shared goals. Once my goals are created I make sure to put them somewhere where I will see them regularly. That helps to periodically remind me what steps I need to take to achieve my goal driven ambitions.
The primary way that I set goals is by working through four categories. I make sure that I have one or more goals in each of these areas. Consider using this as a template as you set goals for the year ahead!
- Physical Goal
Getting into better shape is on almost everyone’s goal list. Doing this to look better, feel better, or because the doctor recommends it are all great reasons. But staying physically healthy influences our ability to lead well. Keeping our body healthy helps us stay sharp, energized and on top of our game as leaders. In a world where it is incredibly common to let our health fall to the side, showing excellence in this area immediately communicates to others that you are a disciplined and self-controlled person. How you carry yourself physically is often the first thing people notice. Also, when we are managing our bodies well we gain increased confidence.
Maybe setting deadlines to shed certain amounts of weight goes on your goal list. Maybe you think beyond that and set an accomplishment based goal – running a half marathon under 2 hours or completing a triathlon. Maybe you even explore the discipline of fasting and set into your calendar a certain meal that you consistently skip.
- Spiritual Goal
Our integrity, character and authority hinge on how we are doing with God. It’s important to set targets in our spiritual walk. Whether that’s aiming for a more consistent time with God or seeking to implement devotions into your family rhythm. Be sure to target growth in the realm of spirituality. During some seasons I’ve found that prioritizing an extended weekly time of prayer and meditation is more beneficial than shorter daily times.
- Mental Goal
Leaders are learners. They are excited by new discoveries and insights. Each year I aim to set a goal for how I will be learning in the year ahead. What am I doing that will keep me mentally sharp and give me an edge over others? For some years this has been an academic goal – achieving a certain GPA or getting accepted into a degree program. Other years this involves establishing a target number of books to read. However this may look for you, be sure that you’re actively pursuing something to make you a more educated and informed human by the end of the year!
- Rest goal
As a chronic overachiever it’s easy for me to get excited about all that I want to do in the year ahead. My engines get revved up just thinking about all I want to achieve each year. Because of this, it’s easy for me to plow ahead and not be intentional about getting the necessary physical and emotional rest I need. I’ve learned that if I don’t insert strategic patterns of rest into my year, it’ll be incredibly difficult for me to slow down. However, if I set a rest goal I’m more inclined to do it…it tricks my goal-driven self into resting! Yes this makes rest a to-do…but it doesn’t lessen the restfulness that we gain from taking time to slow down. Just as you set goals for any other area – establish how you will measurably slow down throughout the year. What hobby has always interested you that this year you’re going to finally pursue? What get aways can you put on your calendar right NOW for you and your wife. How are you getting time alone every month or so to slow down? In a way, this is the most important goal of all, because if we’re not properly rested we’ll never achieve the other goals we are aiming for.