Published to Newsletter on Jan 27, 2021
Vanessa Roybal
Health Education Consultant
Employee Wellness
In January, most people ring in the new year excited to set goals for the next 12 months. As many of us continue to live with uncertainty, looking ahead to next week, next month, or even six months from now is difficult.
Before you dismiss the idea of goal setting in the new year, please take a moment to realize that it is more crucial than ever. Goal setting helps productivity and a sense of normalcy.
Whether personal or professional, the determination of goals helps give you choices for when you might feel that things are out of control. This can also be a productive distraction since goals also provide a sense of planning and focus.
Professional goals, such as the ones we set on our performance evaluations, assist in motivation during the workday. Personal goals help you focus on the time while you are away from work.
First things first – look back. List all your 2020 accomplishments. Be proud and reminisce on your achievements. Also, recognize the trends of what you enjoyed and didn’t. This rearview mirror look will help your goal setting for 2021.
Start small. Try a scheduling goal or a progress goal. Whether it is going to sleep, waking up, or taking a walk during the day at a consistent time, schedule it on your calendar and practice making it a habit. Progress goals can help you focus on the individual tasks you need to complete in order to achieve a bigger goal. Having daily and/or weekly progress goals can break down that bigger goal, so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Just make sure that each goal is specific and measurable.
And remember, even though we are all physically distant doesn’t mean we can’t rely on our family and friends to support our journey. Share with them what you are doing and ask them to engage and support you along the way. From exercise goals to work goals, friends or family members can give us accountability and even join us in our successes along the way!
Tags: EmployeeWellness, Wellness
