Your Roadmap to Finding Joy Through Goal Setting
Goals. A single term eliciting a multitude of responses—perhaps evoking happiness in some, disdain in others, or instigating a sense of pressure.
As we step into 2024, we might be remembering the past few years as a bit of a blur. There were moments where it seemed all we had was time, others where things were moving too fast for us to keep up. From conversations I’ve had with friends and family, it seems even thinking about goals felt more daunting than usual. The idea of setting goals we know we won’t achieve and the notion of pivoting anything seems tiring. These thoughts are entirely valid, and it's understandable that putting ourselves out there, with the risk of not achieving our plans, can seem pointless. So, I would like to challenge you.
How about making 2024 the year where you invest a bit of effort upfront? Clarify what brings you joy, what gets you pumped up, and what dreams you’d like to reach for. Then craft a purposeful and realistic roadmap to make it happen. Here are a few ideas to support you in getting started.
Reflect first:
I bet you have reached far more goals than you are giving yourself credit for. Start by asking yourself what you’ve done in the past year (or years) that made you feel really good. What has made you feel proud? By beginning here you can connect with what you already enjoy and align with.
Don't stress about always having shiny new goals; instead, revel in the awesomeness you've already achieved and build on that momentum.
Dream big:
Because why not? This is your one life: start envisioning the life you dream of.
I just listened to a podcast where Mike Massimino, an American astronaut, was a guest. He was talking about his dream of going to space and how competitive becoming an astronaut is – kind of like a 1-in-a-million chance. Yet, he looked at 1 in a million as still being a chance, an opportunity. The chance goes to zero when you don’t try at all.
So, why not go for it!
Get realistic:
Read that again: GET, not BE, realistic. The idea is to create realistic steps that will lead you towards your Big Dreams. Ok, maybe being a little realistic in deciding what is most important to you for this year will help you use your time wisely. From there, break down your goal (or goals) into the smaller practical steps you need to reach the goal. See where you can actually fit these steps in without overextending yourself.
Also get real about why you haven’t reached goals you have set in the past. What were the roadblocks? Can you adjust your roadmap or ask for support, or is the initial goal not really one for you and it’s time to reassess it? I suggest writing down your thoughts about all this because we can trick or talk ourselves out of trying when we just think about things versus writing it down.
Make it easy & fun:
The overall goal might not be “easy” but the steps you take to get there can be. Start the fun right away. Think about how you even want to write out your goals. If writing out a numbered list isn’t your thing, maybe you can paint or do a digital version. If a numbered list is your thing, maybe spice it up with some coloured pens (my technique.)
Can you get a friend, colleague, family member or online community connection to take up this challenge with you or help keep you accountable?
And a bonus Idea:
Make it a double-double:
We are all busy and we all wish we had more time, but often there are ways we can use our time more wisely without burning ourselves out. That’s where doubling down on goals can come in. For example, if you have two goals like this:
Goal: Improve health and fitness
Goal: See friends, more social time
… then consider arranging a workout class with friends or making group run or walk dates.
Announcing your goals for the upcoming year helps to create the likelihood that you’ll actually make them happen. Jotting them down on paper can give them a tangible form. Remember that you can always add or delete some and make updates as necessary.
So, in a nutshell, my challenge to you for 2024? Invest in yourself. Set aside some time to reflect on what brings you joy, what goals you could set to bring more of those positive moments into your life, and what steps along a fresh (or refreshed) roadmap will carry you toward those goals!
About Naomi:
Naomi is the Director of Recruitment for Crew HR, a boutique HR consulting and Recruitment firm. Prior to this she worked for almost two decades in the luxury hospitality industry, working with top brands such as Four Seasons Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International. Naomi began her career as a dockhand at a boutique resort and since then has accumulated a broad range of experience in customer service leadership, event and wedding planning, training, operations and human resources.
Naomi’s passions and strengths are focused on supporting others to be the best version of themselves whether it is by finding meaningful careers or by focusing on innovative strategies for businesses. One of her upcoming goals for 2024 is to begin showing up again on her community & coaching page @the_community_corner_.