Goal Setting for Unpredictable Times
Posted January 11, 2021
It’s a new year, new you, right? What exactly does that mean? We never have been able to predict the future, but 2020 certainly threw us for a loop. Perhaps that has made us more adaptable to change, but having goals is one aspect of both personal and professional lives that helps keep us anchored to somewhat of a normal existence.
We’re thick in the goal setting scheme of things here at Brightly Creative, ranging from content goals to social media goals to charitable giving goals and overall efficiency goals we’ve set for 2021. I read a recent article in Forbes about how to think differently while goal setting for 2021, and something I took to heart was to list accomplishments from the previous year, which yes, in this case means 2020. That dumpster fire of a year may have seemed like a failure, but if you’re reading this, that means you didn’t fail! You’re alive and looking toward the future.
2020 put a lot of what really matters most in our brains and hearts, and this can help drive goal setting for 2021. Forbes tips include specific and measurable goal setting, making a huge “breakthrough” goal with a deadline and being a dreamer. What will actually happen once your goals are attained? That hyped up feeling will serve as motivation during sluggish times.
And, finally, Forbes suggests choosing goals for each area of your life. There are so many positive things about working for Brightly Creative, but one of the things I love the most is being able to truly enjoy a personal/professional balance. With that, each one of us listed a personal and professional goal for the year. Now that it’s written in this blog, we’re held accountable!
Alyssa
Personal
My personal goals always include travel, and I have a couple of trips that were postponed in 2020. I really want to hit 40 countries this year, so I’m praying for a healthy year for all, which will lead to this happening. If not, I will take a couple of smaller trips to satisfy my wanderlust.
Professional
More continuing education. Back when I was in college, we had to walk to school uphill both ways — without a laptop or social media. Most of what I know has been self taught, my goal is to take three courses to refresh my skills.
Keith
Personal
To only digest news from a newspaper.
Professional
To accomplish the big things on my list before noon.
Jasmyne
Personal
Stay consistent with working out and eating healthier.
Professional
Be more productive and efficient.
Alison
Personal
Cook one new thing each week. While I definitely want to eat healthier in the new year, I want to try to eat more diverse foods. Variety is the spice of life!
Professional
Inbox zero. This is one that Keith always tries to convince me to do but I have the hardest time committing to. The idea is to not have any outstanding emails in your inbox at the end of the day. But can we not count all the emails I got over the Christmas break?
Diego
Personal
It might be a bit lazy, but my personal goal of the year is the same as last year: to get more serious at the gym. I’ve always taken working out semi-casually, but never took it fully seriously until last year when I doubled down on buying the appropriate supplements/drinks and creating a proper routine. I got immediate results that then got sucked into the void after gyms were shut down, and even after they reopened I’m not about to go back just to catch rona. Hopefully 2021 is when I can safely return and get back to work.
Professional
It’s a bit corny but it’s purely just to soak up as much information as I can to make sure I end the year a better, more knowledgeable professional than I started it. It’s always a lot of fun to meet someone who you can learn a new skill from, or a more efficient way of doing something, and just constantly improving your toolkit.
Jonathan
Personal
The term “self-care” and it’s overuse in the last year can be a bit grating. But, in 2021, I think my entire ethos could benefit with a more rounded approach to physical, mental and spiritual health. More variety, more time to daydream, more time to let nature do the talking.
Professional
Helping to manage and grow a small agency takes a lot away from continuing to advance my craft. I will immerse myself more in the design world and proceed with far more intent and emotion.
Tags: 2021, Brightly Creative, goal setting, goals, New Year
CATEGORY: Brightly Creative