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Write your 2021 goals now
There are just a few weeks left of 2020, and then we say goodbye to this crazy year.
But, instead of waiting for January to figure out what you want to accomplish in 2021, there are some good reasons to start writing your 2021 goals now.
When I look back at the financial goals I wrote down last December, I can’t help but laugh a little inside. I had no idea our world would turn upside down just 3 months later.
Once my husband and I were both furloughed, we switched gears from building income and reducing debt, to losing income and increasing debt.
However, I’m very hopeful that 2021 will be better.
I’m hopeful that a vaccine will be distributed, that social distancing restrictions will eventually be minimal, and that people can go back to work and get their finances back on track.
And, that’s why I think it’s important to start writing your 2021 goals now.
Even if things look bleak. Even if Christmas is going to be pretty lean this year. Even if you don’t know how you’re going to bring in an income next month.
Setting meaningful goals will give you direction. In the middle of all the chaos, when you’re not sure which way you should turn, set your target and start walking towards it.
Be ready to hit the ground running when your circumstances begin to shift. And, they will. So, have a plan in place when the time comes.
Most people see January 1st as the perfect time for writing down the new year’s goals. There’s a lot of heightened inspiration at the beginning of every year.
But, by February, that same inspiration can barely be seen in the rear view mirror. Life regulates itself with routine and habit, and your planner is neglected in a desk drawer.
Instead of waiting until 2021 to write down your goals, do it now so you can get a running start. Then, when you turn to January’s calendar page, your vision will be clear and your motivation in high gear.
Get ready, because 2021 is going to be amazing! Here are 3 reasons you should start writing your 2021 goals now.
#1 You will get a head start
Dreams are just goals without a plan.
It’s easy to imagine a better life, or just make a list of things you’d like to do. That’s the fun part. But, if you don’t plan how you’ll achieve them, they’ll never leave the ground.
Plans take time to flesh out. Typically, they require some research. You may want to sleep on your ideas until they really gel.
And then there are revisions. Be open to switching things up, altering your plan, even changing your goals.
As you think about what you really want to accomplish and how, allow divine inspiration to override any rigid thinking.
Then once you feel good about the goals you’ve set and the plans to achieve them, let them sit for a while. Write them down, then leave them alone for a few days.
When you go back to review them, be aware of how you feel.
Are you excited? Motivated? Inspired?
Or do you feel a sense of obligation? Do you feel worried or burdened or unmotivated?
Listen to your feelings, and decide if the goals you’ve chosen are really the right ones for you.
Start this process now, so you can start building momentum before the new year begins.
Related Post: A Written Life Plan: 5 Simple Steps How & 11 Powerful Reasons Why
#2 You can build momentum
Once you have a clear direction you’re headed, start adding some structural support to the path.
Think of any logistics your goals require that you could address now. You don’t want the practical details to slow you down once the new year starts.
For example:
- If you want to incorporate apps in your money management, download some now. Play around with them, see what works for you and what doesn’t.
- If you want to lose weight, start experimenting with recipes now. Build a library of healthy meals. Put together a meal plan for January.
- If you want to learn a new skill, like photography, start reading books and visiting websites. Buy the camera you want to use, and figure out how to use it.
- If you want to generate more income with a side hustle, research the opportunities available to you. Find out the potential income with each one. Determine what fits your life and personality.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
The preparation you do now will build momentum for the plans you’ll implement in January. You’ll already be in motion, so once New Year’s Day comes, you can hit the ground running.
Related Post: How To Motivate Yourself To Achieve Your Goals
#3 You’ll hit the ground running
Before you take that first sip of bubbly and kiss your partner at the stroke of midnight, everything will be in place to start crushing your goals the next morning.
The effort you put in ahead of time to identify the right goals, create a clear plan, and gather the materials you need will set you up to start giving 100% from the very start.
You won’t be bogged down with cloudy thinking, uncertainty, unknowns, and a lack of resources.
You’ll already have the momentum and the motivation to push you through the mid-January slump, when most people are losing steam.
And, you’ll experience progress and a sense of achievement sooner, which helps to keep you focused and on track.
So what are you waiting for? (*Don’t* wait to find the perfect planner!)
Start writing your 2021 goals now.
Set yourself up for success by doing the groundwork needed to get a head start.
Then, when you turn the first page on the new year, you’ll be ready for some serious goal-crushing!
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Money Values: How To Align Your Priorities With Your Spending
- 9 Powerful Benefits of Setting Financial Goals
- 5 Principles To Change Your Life After 50
- The Mexican Fisherman: 5 Powerful Lessons To Live By
- The One Thing Book Review: Going Small Leads To Big Results
- 5 Ways Limiting Beliefs Harm Us
- 5 Money Lessons I Wish My Parents Had Taught Me
- 4 Disguised Fears Holding You Back From Achieving Your Goals
- How To Meet Your Future Self and Change Your Life
- A Willingness To Change: Here’s the How & the Why
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