This article was originally published at New Year’s, however around this time of year I find myself looking at where I am going into the second quarter and reflecting on where I am with my New Year’s resolutions. How about you?

FORGET THE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!
FOCUS ON SETTING GOALS THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR.

Forego the New Year’s resolutions this year and focus on goal setting. New Year’s resolutions end up making people feel like they have failed. By February, most resolutions fall by the wayside and often individuals experience negative feelings such as guilt, depression and low self-esteem. People make too many resolutions, make them too big, and don’t create an environment to support their success.

Instead, write a short list of goals that will make you feel successful when you attain them. Goals encompass hopes and dreams in a way resolutions do not because with them we recognize that success comes one step at a time.

TOP TEN THINGS FOR GOALS ATTAINMENT

• Write a list of goals that if achieved will make you feel successful and enhance your well being. Keep the list short and focused and resist the urge to add more than three goals. The goals can be big – for example, starting a home business or losing forty pounds — but they must break down into small steps to accomplish over the year.
• Chunk down the steps to your goals but go with the flow. Don’t “flash and burn out” by trying to complete your goal too quickly. Instead take small steps – like losing five pounds a month. Resist the urge to plan out every single step. Stay open to possibilities. There may be opportunities that you have not considered. For example, I once put out a press release to garner publicity for my coaching business. A reporter from the largest TV network news in my region called and asked if I could refer her to a coach who lived in the same city so she could do the interview within an hour. Although I was disappointed that I was not interviewed, my contact information and ideas were broadcast and I made a new alliance by finding a coach who could do the interview
• To ensure success, people must create an environment to support the goal’s achievement. For example, if you want to lose weight make sure you have healthy food in the home, eat several small meals during the day, and exercise regularly. If you want to write a novel, reserve some time each day to write and find a way to support your work like a class or writing group.
• Stay optimistic and flexible. Resist the temptation to allow obstacles or the lack of something to stall your success. Don’t say you can’t lose weight until you buy an expensive piece of equipment or join a gym – start exercising in front of a video. Use what you have to succeed.
• Prioritizing your time is the key to reaching your goal. Review your weekly schedule and prioritize your time as it fits with your goals. If too much time is spent doing things other than your goals, then rethink your schedule and keep your priorities in mind. It may be that at first you only have fifteen minutes or a half hour a day, but that is more than you are currently doing. As you start working toward your goals, you will feel empowered even if you can only devote small blocks of time. Your efforts will add up and you will start feeling successful.
• Start your day with a purpose in mind. Catch yourself if you are getting sidetracked away from your purpose.
• Avoid making long daily “to do” lists. Instead make one long list and assign prioritized tasks on your calendar.
• Check in on your progress at least once a month. Give yourself the credit you are due and take time to celebrate your small successes.Review both your successes and failures to glean lessons from both.
• Highlight the tasks you have completed instead of crossing them out. This way your eye always goes first to your accomplishments.
• Give yourself a year to reach your goal. Small blocks of time, even only fifteen minutes a day, will add up over a year! So will losing five pounds a month.

About Michelle Prosser, M.A., APR.

Michelle is a partnering faculty member for the Emerging Leader’s program.
She is the President of Energy Focus Coaching and Consulting and works with organizations and individuals. She holds an M.A. in communication studies from the University of Virginia , certification in a communications styles assessment and life purpose process, and is a trained coach through Success Unlimited Network and Corporate Coach U International. She also holds APR certification from the Public Relations Society of America. Visit Our Team to view Complete Bio.