January is when we buy gym memberships, jogging pants and new dietary books; when we think about holidays and when we consider a new job. Recognising that Christmas was a period of excess, we're particularly likely to channel our thoughts towards a more prudent lifestyle. The problem is that it involves willpower and not all of us are strong minded. By February, we can be back in our old ways and have forgotten all of our ambitious plans. Perhaps the answer is to be realistic; to recognise what is achievable and aim, in small steps, to work towards our goals.
When I first met my wife, she introduced me to the idea of using aims and goals in this way. In business it had been a natural task for me, but I hadn't adapted it to my personal life, so I started to. Since then, each year I write down what I'd like to achieve the following year. The rule is that the goals can't be vague wishes, but should have quantifiable targets that can be measured, so that I'll know when I reach them. I monitor my progress through the year and can then adjust my actions as necessary to reach my goals. My wife and I use New Year's Eve to look back on the year and talk about last year's aims, to see what we've achieved and whether we've fallen short. Then we look ahead and explain our new goals, including how we hope to reach them. Whilst preparing, we have time to think about progressing and not stagnating. This may sound like micro-managing our lives, but it suits us.
Years go by too quickly and we can never be sure of future impediments: better to look forward with optimism, and that's what setting goals does. It focuses the mind and creates an appetite to face the challenges of the year ahead. Happy New Year.