How I'm refocusing my 2018 goals
/As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed a difference between how I feel at the beginning of the year and how I feel toward the end of the year. At the beginning of the year there is this sense of promise and hope for what a new year will bring. There is anticipation at turning over the calendar page each month. Somewhere around August or September though, that feeling shifts from an excited anticipation to a frenzied anticipation, and by the time we hit the middle of October I feel like I’m in a full on sprint to the finish line.
Some of that feeling has to do with the fact that some of my biggest projects at work are positioned at this time of year. But I feel it in my personal life too, this sense of time being lost more quickly than I want it to be. In extreme circumstances, more quickly than I can keep up with. So as I think about how I want to wrap up the roughly 60 days that are left in 2018, I end up feeling like I am considering how to accomplish a list of things that is far too long for what I can actually manage!
A primary area that I explore here on You Me Serendipity is the concept of setting annual and monthly goals using PowerSheets. If you haven’t heard of this goal planning tool before, you can learn more about it here.
I posted my goals for 2018 back in February and, to be honest, now that we’ve hit the second to last month of the year, I have to admit this year has felt like a bit of a bust. I haven’t felt connected to my PowerSheets or my goals much of the year. I haven’t felt motivated to revisit or re-tune my goals based on how priorities have changed throughout the year. I just haven’t wanted to. It’s almost hard to say it out loud that this tool I once felt so connected to and driven by just hasn’t done it for me this year.
But, with 60 days still left in the year, that is no excuse to give up! So I’ve spent some time refocusing my original goals into more manageable chunks. Here’s how I’m going to refocus my goals for the end of the year:
Original goal - move and strengthen my body. In 2018 I wanted to focus on building my strength and making healthier choices.
Refreshed goal - move and strengthen my body. I want to finish out 2018 by continuing to use Weight Watchers Online and walking multiple times a week.
Original goal - prioritize and strengthen my relationships. In 2018 I wanted to focus on prioritizing and building more honest, intimate, and supportive relationships.
Refreshed goal - prioritize and strengthen my relationships. I want to finish out 2018 by calling at least one friend that I feel like I’ve started to lose touch with this year.
Original goal - focus and strengthen our finances. In 2018 I wanted to continue the progress made in 2017 in learning how to use a budget and being more conscious about my spending habits.
Refreshed goal - focus and strengthen our finances. I want to finish out 2018 by switching my paychecks to deposit into our joint checking account. We have also committed to not giving gifts this year at Christmas so we can stay more on track with our monthly budget (which for someone who loves to give gifts was kind of hard to agree to, even though I know it’s the right call for our situation this year!).
Original goal - encourage and strengthen my faith. In 2018 I wanted to let go of feeling like I have to hide my belief in God.
Refreshed goal - encourage and strengthen my faith. I want to finish out 2018 by building back time in my routine for reflection and prayer a couple of times a week. I also want to visit the Presbyterian church in our community to see if it is a good fit to become our church home.
Original goal - challenge and strengthen my mind. In 2018 I wanted to learn new skills and continue to build and expand my hobbies.
Refreshed goal - challenge and strengthen my mind. I want to finish out 2018 by building creative time into my weekly routine again. I also would like to learn how to use my sewing machine and complete a couple of sewing projects I’ve set out for myself.
Original goal - increase and strengthen my confidence. In 2018 I wanted to focus on being more honest, open and forthcoming, and spend less time on the things that don’t help me live a life rooted in subjective perfection.
Refreshed goal - increase and strengthen my confidence. I want to finish out 2018 by getting back into a regular writing and posting routine here on You Me Serendipity. I also want to continue to trust the process of our infertility treatment plan and not let continued failures impact my commitment to trying to start our family.
I'd love to know - what were some of the goals you focused on in 2018? What are the tools and tricks you use to keep yourself focused and accountable for them each day? How can I help you in making the last 60 days of 2018 your best? Share your thoughts in the comments!
