Once again, we have made it to another New Year. So many people think about making a New Year’s resolution, but do we really realize where the idea began? New Year’s resolutions were started over 4000 years ago by the ancient Babylonians.
New Year’s resolutions are helpful because they make you think of how you can make changes in your life for the new year. All this positive energy is a great way to start a new year. New Year’s resolutions also carry a certain amount of pressure. This is true because if you do not complete your New Year’s resolution, it may discourage you from making other changes in your life. New Year’s resolutions generally get a lot of attention during the first couple of days or even weeks of a New Year only to fall haphazardly to the wayside with last year’s calendar.
On the flip side, goal setting with long-and short-term goals in mind may be a better idea for you. For some reason, people do not think about goal setting as something they can or should use to get important things done regularly. Maybe you think of goal setting as something that should only be used for long term or large projects, or something done in a work environment. It is possible you might think goal setting is something that is difficult, and you are not sure where to start. Although defining your goals may take some time and resources, the rewards are worth it.
There are many ways to motivate yourself to get in the habit of goal setting that can make you a rock star at achieving each of your objectives in life. There are many tools to use that make goal setting a fun and an easy thing to do. Once you get in the habit of taking time to outline what you need and want, the adventure has begun. It is completely up to you how to track your goals. You can use calendars, note cards, post it notes or your phone to monitor your progress. The only thing you must do is make sure the system you choose works for you. It is okay if you find it necessary to test different methods or even combine a few to figure out what works best for you. Make sure to write your goal somewhere that you are going to see it every day. It is also a good idea to create daily action steps toward making your objective a reality. These are things you must do to make sure your goal is achieved. It is just another way to keep your needs at the forefront of your mind. Whether it is reviewing your notes on the progress you have made or talking to a friend to get encouragement, both are productive steps to keep you focused on your desired result.
Goal setting is a great way to get into the habit of taking steps to see actual change come to life right in front of your eyes. It is also an effective tool to use to minimize your chances of getting frustrated or overwhelmed by your situation. Another positive thing about goal setting is that it can help you see your progress in manageable stages instead of trying to tackle a large project in just one afternoon. Seeing your goals through to completion will also help increase your self-esteem and further empower you in the choices you make for your life. It will be clear evidence of your abilities and the methods you used to get results. This could also be your personal playbook on approaching other similar situations and minimize the potential legwork needed next time.
For many people with disabilities, advocacy is a big part of having our needs met. Goal setting is a great tool to use when you are approaching an advocacy project. It gives you an opportunity to focus on your needs and even map out a way to get there. Once you see the progress you have made, it can give you the motivation and self-esteem to complete any project. Using goal setting for both types of issues gives you an opportunity to monitor your progress, celebrate milestones and keep track of the amount of time steps take to be accomplished.
Using the methods put forth in goal setting can be helpful in many aspects in the life of someone with a disability. It can not only help you achieve great things throughout the New Year but let you work on your advocacy skills at the same time. Seeing your goals become a reality is a great way to increase your feelings of empowerment when it comes to choices you make in your life. Not only will the idea of goal setting help you set yourself up for success in the New Year but will help you practice skills that will make you a success in other aspects of your life too. That is a goal anyone would want to reach anytime of the year.