How to Make the New Year Spectacular

We all know that New Years Resolutions are over-rated.  We know that people set them and then don’t follow through.  So, what’s the answer? Just don’t set any?  I don’t think so.  I think the problem isn’t having them, it’s the way we do it.  Let me help you to create a way that will make you excited about having new goals, accomplishing them, and creating a spectacular year.

First don’t be short-sighted.  Going to the gym every day is a goal, but it’s not very long range.  Go to the gym to do what?  For how long?  How will you know when you are successful?  That’s what I mean by short sighted.  If we are going to set goals, we need to set them so they allow us to measure and know if we are winning.  We need to set them up so they make us want to win.  We need to have something that gets us excited. 

Start by thinking about this question:  On December 31^st of next year, when you look back at this one, what would have made it spectacular? What would have made it amazing and worth living? Write these things down. Particularly, pay attention to categories like health, wealth, relationships, self-improvement (mental, spiritual, physical) and add to it fun things like adventure, hobbies, and contribution. How will the world be a better place because you were on it? Brainstorm and just write down ideas as they come to you. 

Now take the most important of those ideas and create goals.  Make them as specific as possible.  Sometimes that is easier than others.  I like to put goals into two categories: those you can check off and those that need a grade.  For example, if your goal is to kayak a river this year, and after you do it, you can check it off. DONE. But what if your goal is to be a better father?  That’s a little harder. Here are some tricks to help with it. First, break it down.  In our example, ask yourself, “What would make me a better father?”  What activities would that entail, how could you measure it?  So, you could say to spend an hour a week one-on-one with your son. Or it could be plan an activity once a month for you to learn together.  Those can be measured.  Second, create a grade.  In our example, you could grade yourself once a week.  Once a week, you look back and ask, “On a scale of 1-10 how did I do as a father this week? What would have made it a 10?”  

Now you have a set of goals that you can work on and work from. Now it’s time to get them in front of you.  Use a planner (more on the Living Every Minute Planner coming later) and/or an app that allows you to see your goals every day, so you can work on them.  Every morning, look at your goals and rewrite them.  Every night think about them.  This is how they happen.  We become what we think about most of the time. 

Now that you have a plan for the year, if you want to make this a spectacular year live in the moment.  Remember to learn from the past, plan for the future, but live in THIS MOMENT.  This is the gift we are given, right now. It’s called the present, after all!    

I hope this helps you plan a spectacular year.  I pray you have the passion and dedication to make your dreams happen.

Dr. Tim