Tag Archives: goal setting

Achieve your New Year’s Resolution with these Eight Steps

New Year’s Resolutions can be so complicated. Right now, we are in the midst of resolution overload. Ads on TV, on the web, on the radio, on your phone, and in the paper all have a resolution theme. How can you assess your wants and needs and set a vision for yourself when there are so many options out there? And, how do you stick with those resolutions throughout the year? Can you really achieve what you want in 2018?

Today, I’m going to show you eight steps that will help you achieve your New Year’s Resolution.

1. First, you need to know how to set a resolution in a way that is sustainable. I’ve already talked about how to set a New Year’s resolution in eight steps. Start there!

2. Choose SMART objectives. You have to start out with the right objectives within your resolution before you can actually be successful. Your goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time-bound. Check out my post on SMART goals to set the right objective for the year.

2. Establish a Compass Routine. Find that one routine that will set you up for the rest of the day/week/month. For me, a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon to establish my schedule, meal plan, and clean for the week is my compass routine. For me, those two hours set the direction for the rest of the week.

3. Maximize your time. Sticking with your goals usually means that you have to get creative with your time. The more you are able to get the most out the time you have, the easier it will be to find time to exercise, plan meals, spend time with family, or be more mindful.

4. Find better balance with work. You have 168 hours in a week – how will you use that time? Take a look at your week and find a little more balance. And, sign up for my mailing list (in the top right corner of this page) to get my better balance calculator!

5. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness (even five minutes!) can help you achieve your goals. When you are present and enjoy the moment, you notice more about yourself and the world around you. Whether you have a resolution to be more mindful itself or whether you are trying to achieve a different resolution, practicing mindfulness will help you either way.

6. Adopt a Healthy Habit. Now is the perfect time to reset your lifestyle and think about healthy habits. But, where do you get started? Check out my post on how to adopt a healthy habit – it shows you five steps to get you going.

7. Journal. It might seem silly, but journalling about your progress, your challenges, or even the food you eat is another way to remind yourself about your resolution. There are so many ways to journal… explore these five different ways to keep a journal.

8. Be more grateful. Regardless of whether you are trying to change your lifestyle, your finances, or you attitude, being more grateful can help you achieve- yes acheieve – your goals. By focusing on the actions, things, and people in your life for which you are thankful, you put yourself in a headspace to reach your goals.

8. Keep your News Year’s Resolution going. Know the who, what, when, where, how and why when it comes to your resolution.

What is your New Year’s Resolution for 2018? Let me know in the comments!

Achieve Your New Year's Resolution with Eight Steps

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
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How to adopt a healthy habit

Want to adopt a healthy habit? You aren’t alone. Continue reading How to adopt a healthy habit

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
Manners matter here! Not sure whether your comment is irrelevant, impolite, or disrespectful? Read my commenting rules Commenting Rules

The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!

How to Keep a New Year’s Resolution Going: 5 Tips

Many of us make New Year’s resolutions, but not everyone keeps them! Here are 5 tips on how to keep a New Year’s resolution.
Continue reading How to Keep a New Year’s Resolution Going: 5 Tips

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
Manners matter here! Not sure whether your comment is irrelevant, impolite, or disrespectful? Read my commenting rules Commenting Rules

The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!

How to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions in Eight Steps

It’s that time of year again: the beginning of the new year! This is a time to take advantage of this fresh start to be your best self. Reflect on the year before and make New Year’s resolutions for the year ahead.

So, how do you make a New Year’s resolution?

There are many ways to go about this, but these eight steps below will show you how to make successful resolutions—resolutions that align with your own needs. Hopefully from this post you can make realistic, actionable New Year’s resolutions that will help you see successful results.

1. Set an intention for this new year.

Ask yourself: How do you want to feel this year? Brainstorm a list of words that describe the feelings you seek. For example, do you want to feel happiness? joy? love? radiance? healthfulness? creativity?

2. Establish a vision for your best self.

Once you have brainstormed a list of words, circle the top three that you feel would bring out your best self. With these words in mind, write a vision statement. What do you want to see for yourself this year? For example, do you see a healthier, radiant, happy self? Do you see a creative, joyous, and productive self?

3. Make goals. These are your New Year’s resolutions!

Now, it’s time to determine what you need to do to make your vision a reality. To do, this, write down SMART goals that will help you work toward your vision. The essentials elements of SMART goals include:

• S-Specific. Narrow your goal to one thing you want to accomplish. A goal must be crystal clear to you. You must envision the outcome.
• M-Measurable. Determine a number that tells you when your outcome is achieved.
• A-Actionable. Choose 3-5 action steps that you must take to reach your goal.
• R-Relevant. Identify how your goal aligns with your personal mission values.
• T-Time bound. Set a timeline to create a sustainable outcome.

An example of a SMART goal is:
In 8 weeks, I will drink 9 cups of water every day, because this aligns with my vision for healthy living.

4. Prioritize your goals.

You need a succinct list of goals for the new year. And, you just want to tackle one goal at a time to be successful. I recommend creating no more than six goals. It takes more than two months to form a habit. So, if you tackle a new goal every eight weeks this year, you really max out at six goals

5. Build objectives.

Objectives are the milestones that will get you to your goal. Objectives identify the “how” you want to achieve your goal. And, objectives are written in a results-oriented manor. For example, for the water goal above, objectives could be:

• I have three water bottles available at work, in my car, and at home
• I have access to citrus slices, herbs, tea, and frozen fruit
• I am reminded every hour to drink water

6. Create actionable steps.

Now that you know you milestones, you need to identify the specific actions that must be taken to get you to those milestones. For example:

• Buy three water bottles
• Place water bottles in the car, at work, and at home
• Every Sunday, cut up a lemon, lime, orange, and mint
• Add herbal tea and frozen fruit to the weekly grocery list
• Set a phone reminder to drink water throughout the day

7. Determine a timeline.

Now that you have a vision, goals, objectives, and actions, you need a timeline. Things to think about when setting a timeline:
• Do your goals build upon one another? If so, which is first?
• Are there certain times of year where some goals might be easier than others? For example, if you want to be more physically active and one objective is to go skiing, begin your goal objective when it is snowy outside!
• Choose a “due date” for each milestone to keep you motivated.
• Incorporate your milestones into your calendar so that you are reminded throughout the year to work toward your goals.

New Year's Resolutions Diagram Lao Tzu Quote

8. Begin your New Year’s resolutions with confidence.

The best way to make your new year’s resolution successful is simply to start. As Lao Tzu says:

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Lao Tzu Tweet this!

What resolutions will you make this new year? Let me know in the comments below!

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
Manners matter here! Not sure whether your comment is irrelevant, impolite, or disrespectful? Read my commenting rules Commenting Rules

The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!

Seven Questions to Ask Your Team when Achieving a SMARTER Goal

Have you ever joined on a team and thought: “Why am I doing all the work?” or, “Why am I here? There’s no room for me to contribute.”

Teams are tricky. It takes thoughtful planning and a deliberate approach to cultivate a valuable team product—whether that means working family to host a birthday party or producing an annual report with work colleagues. A team achieves its best when members follow a SMARTER goal.

Continue reading Seven Questions to Ask Your Team when Achieving a SMARTER Goal

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
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The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!

The Compass Routine

A couple of weeks go, I felt totally frustrated. Here it was Thursday morning, and I had spent half the week sleeping late and not getting the exercise and reflection time I needed.

Continue reading The Compass Routine

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
Manners matter here! Not sure whether your comment is irrelevant, impolite, or disrespectful? Read my commenting rules Commenting Rules

The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!

Set a goal that you can start today! Achieve Your SMART Goal in 5 Steps.

You don’t have to be a soccer player to know what it feels like to work toward a goal. We set goals at work, at school, at home, and with family and friends. Any time you think about plans for the future, you are setting a goal. One way to make sure your goal is set up for success is to create and follow a SMART goal. This acronym means:

Continue reading Set a goal that you can start today! Achieve Your SMART Goal in 5 Steps.

© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
Manners matter here! Not sure whether your comment is irrelevant, impolite, or disrespectful? Read my commenting rules Commenting Rules

The postings on this site are my own (unless otherwise stated) and don't necessarily represent any other organization's positions, strategies or opinions. Thanks!