Before The Ball Drops: Setting Goals For 2018

Around this time of year, the “new year, new me” mantra is the latest post on everyone’s social media feeds. But, most of us don’t have any clue of what we want to change or how to change it. Wondering how to put your best foot forward in 2018 and beyond?

Here are some things I’m implementing:

According to Thomas Edison, “vision without execution is hallucination”. Set aside some time to really contemplate what you desire and put a plan of action in place to see it through. For example, a huge issue of mine is time management. To resolve it, I will be writing my upcoming tasks on a calendar and forcing myself to complete them at least two days before the due date. By doing this, I will reduce stress and catch any mistakes before the deadline.

Often times, we will work tirelessly towards a goal for a week or two, then life gets

in the way and the fire we had dims with the things that we made priority over it. A great way to stop this cycle is to have an accountability partner. Whether it be your group chat, a co-worker, or someone you meet who’s trying to accomplish the same goals you are. Having someone who pushes us to stay the course is vital. However, like any relationship, communication is a must. Before you start, establish when you want to be checked on and how aggressive you want your partner to be. While some might desire constant reminders, some of us prefer a more gentle approach.

Most importantly, don’t wait until the new year, start now! On average, it takes 66 days to learn a new habit, but time isn’t promised to any of us, and our dreams don’t deserve to be risked. When we wait to act on our goals, we give fear and insecurity the opportunity to convince us we’re not worthy of them. If our passions are urgent enough to act on in the new year, they’re urgent enough to begin as soon as possible.

This week, I challenge you to create vision boards, write notes, or reflect on all that you’ve accomplished this year and all that you want to conquer in the year to come. Take pride in the fact that you made it through everything that tried to break you and no matter what, you will continue to prevail. Put yourself first and make your mark. Starting now.

Live loved.

Mel