With the new year upon us, many are hoping 2021 will be much different than 2020. Reflecting on the past year, have you considered what you might do differently in the new year? Were there parts of this year which you want to ditch yet parts which are worth keeping or continuing? Or perhaps the experiences of 2020 gave you a renewed sense of experiencing life unlike the normal routine of years past. If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, now is a good time to set some goals about how you want your 2021 year to go. Here are some ways to help make those goals successful.
1. Why or what is the true reason for the change you are hoping to have happen? If you are only doing it because you feel it is expected of you or everyone else is doing it, is it really something you want for yourself? If not, change your goal to suit you - something which will bring positivity to you.
2. Learn from your past experiences. No one knows you better than you. Reflect on what works and what does not work for you when making a change in your life. Ask yourself why you were not successful in the past obtaining goals. Were there obstacles and what were they?
3. Research has shown identifying or anticipating obstacles and having an implementation plan on how to respond to those obstacles helps make goals more achievable. You are less likely to be surprised and steered off track if you have thought about what might get in your way and what you will do if it happens.
4. Planning your goal out in steps or small increments makes it less intimidating and more likely to be reached. Ask yourself if you feel it is doable. If not, change it to something which feels doable.
5. Seek support through family, friends or a group by making goals together and encouraging each other. You can help each other celebrate the successes but also avoid temptations likely to sabotage your progress.
6. Everyone feels good when they accomplish something but why not include a little extra
incentive? Reward yourself when you accomplish the small steps. The reward does not have to be expensive or extravagant but something you look forward to doing or enjoying.
7. If the goal was not fully accomplished, focus on the progress rather than what did not happen. Reflect on and identify what you need to do differently to have more success and move forward. Beating yourself up makes you feel defeated and most likely to give up.
Take some time to identify how you want to move forward in your life in the new year.
Contact Janell at the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3036, janellb@montana.edu or in the green building next to the Chouteau County Courthouse at 1308 Franklin St in Fort Benton.
Follow us on Facebook @ChouteauCountyExtension to keep up to date on what is happening in Chouteau County Extension and 4-H.
Montana State University, US Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
