It’s that time of year again. My social media accounts are full of people’s goals for the new year. I see pictures of smoothie bowls and running shoes and words about showing compassion to oneself and others. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed at trying to set goals at the beginning of the year. It is daunting to try to figure out what you want to accomplish in one year. A year can seem really long or really short, depending on the goal.
This year though, I was excited to set my intentions for the year. Why? I have learned a few methods that help me achieve my goals. One, I set a focus. It could be a word or phrase through which I filter every goal and opportunity through and it keeps my eyes focused on my vision, what I want to be true about my life this year.
Second, I set S.M.A.R.T goals.
This kind of goal is:
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Action-based
R - Realistic
T - Timelined
Third, I find an accountability partner. It could be my husband or best girl friend. It could be my yoga instructor. Or I will enlist the help of a business coach. I have found that I cannot accomplish my big dreams on my own. I need help and encouragement. So I share my focus and goals with a few people that I know will not only remind me of my vision, but offer tools and encouragement that will actually help me achieve it.
My focus for 2016 is to be “grounded in love.” I want everything I do, everything I say, every goal I set to be grounded in love. My health goal is to stick pincha (a forearm balance) and handstand in my yoga practice. This goal relates to my overall vision because yoga focuses on being centered and grounded in body and spirit by focusing on your breathe. Here is how I plan to accomplish it:
Specific - I want to hold pincha and a handstand for 5 deep breaths during my yoga practice (notice that I didn’t say I want to get better at yoga, I was specific in how I want to get better in yoga)
Measurable - I will do these poses on my own without the help of a wall (I can only do these poses leaning against a wall at this point)
Action-based - I will attend a yoga class at least 2 times/week, attend at least 2 arm balance workshops, and practice on my own at least once a week.
Realistic - I know this is doable because I have already started going to yoga twice/week over the past few months and have registered for my first arm balance workshop in January.
Timelined - Every Sunday, I will sign up for the week’s yoga classes and put it in my calendar.
Did you notice my not-so-great king dancer yoga pose in the picture? I’m going to rock that pose by the end of the year too!
What goals are you setting for 2016? What do you want to be true about your health at the end of 2016?