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New Years Revelations, not Resolutions
by Cameron Townsley
It’s February already. How is that ‘New Year, New You’ feeling going? If you’re already struggling to commit to your resolutions, don’t worry – you’re not alone. I can relate, and regrettably.
As an avid goal setter each year, I was struck with a revelation this year that goal setting can actually be pretty crap. You set your sights on a lifestyle change for the better, but the inevitable fall from the wagon can be disheartening. Well-meaning but mishandled goals can lead to burn out, feeling lost, or can even work against you. No one said living in this modern world was easy!
I’ve concluded from my legitimate research (speaking to people I know) that there are three approaches to the new year and goal setting. Chances are, you’re guilty of one of these three:
Approach #1: Queen of The Details
You’re the type of person to do an End of 2022 Year Review, and set up your vision for the end of 2023. You’ve set a list of goals and broken them down into actionable steps. You are a Freak In The (spread)Sheets with your goal organisation.
Approach #2: Lucy Goosey
You know you have a list of goals to achieve, but you like to take the chill approach. Unfortunately, your list contains vague actions such as “let’s get fitter!” or “learn to play piano.” You only refer back to these when you declare you’re going to have a productive Sunday, and they never quite get ticked off.
Approach #3: Breezy Bryce
You think you know what you want a good 2023 to look like, but you haven’t dedicated the time to sit down and think about how to achieve this vision. An extreme Breezy Bryce might even think annual goal setting is lame.
Despite your goal setting alter ego, as January is a thing of the past and we look to Q1 as a whole, where do we go from here?
My solution? Mindset goals.
No matter your goal setting persona, a trick I have found that keeps me motivated through the year is to focus energy into mindset goals.
The result? If you put your mindset goals first, the other goals will flow easier and feel less like slog. The best part? It doesn’t have to be January 1st to get started. Grab a pen and take note, because it’s time for a mindset overhaul that will stick for good.
My Mindset Methods
1. Enjoy the process
Stop focusing so much on the goal and enjoy the steps to get there! Your actions are not a means to an end – they’re supposed to be the fun part.
2. Trust yourself!
You’ve performed well before and you have the evidence to prove it… so you are more than capable of performing again. If you’re looking for more motivation to self-promote and believe in yourself, a phenomenal book to read is Stefanie Sword-Williams’s
F*ck Being Humble!
“Stop denying yourself the recognition and learn to accept that you are good at your job!”
– Stefanie Sword-Williams
3. Everyone is S*** at first!
Be open minded about trying new things. Everyone is bad at things when they start out and you probably will be too. But that’s okay! Success comes from pushing yourself through the fear zone, and into the growth zone – Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that!
4. You can control how you feel, not how others feel
If you turn to other people for proof that you are doing good, or bad, or that you are where you need to be, then you’ll never truly get there. Focus on how you feel about a scenario yourself and your motivation will flow.
5. Be more selfish
Doing something for yourself is not actually selfish, despite what we all tell ourselves. If anything you should be MORE selfish in 2023! Sarah Knight’s book You Do You puts a great focus on why we should be doing more for ourselves. A highly recommended read!.
No one cares!!
This sounds mean but in reality, it’s true. When you work from a café or post twice on LinkedIn in one day, others might spare you a fleeting thought but they really don’t care. If the situation was reversed, you wouldn’t pay it any mind either.
Conclusion? Do whatever you want to do anyway, especially if it gets you closer to your goals.
Don’t stress too much this year about achieving your rigid SMART set goals by certain dates, overworking yourself, or not sticking to the plan. Slow down, enjoy the process and focus on shifting your mindset for good. You’ll be surprised at how much easier achieving those New Year goals becomes, and you won’t have flogged yourself trying.
– Cameron x
Cameron is Creative and Events Manager at The Digital Voice™, heading up two teams which deliver and create events, experiences & graphic design for our clients. Graduating with a distinction in MSc Events Management from UWE, a BA in Philosophy from The University of Exeter and running her own art business, Cameron lives and breathes all things creative and events.
