No Resolutions, Only Goals - And Why SMART Goals Matter.

Resolutions Are So Last Year

We’ve all heard it: “What resolutions are you making?” “What’s your plan for 2024?” Sometimes, it can be overwhelming. 

But as we come to the close of 2023, it’s time to start feeling those whispers of optimism and excitement. The new year is a fresh start, a clean slate, and every other cliché you can think of. 

Resolutions are our attempt to apply what we’ve learned from this year, envelop only (usually) the losses or misses, and vow to do better next year. Whether it’s your diet, your finances or your career goals, resolutions typically come from a place of lack, from something we didn’t accomplish or achieve. And resolutions usually come with a strict regimen or structure to knock the new ones off the list. When we set the bar so unattainably high (say, a night owl vowing to get up at 4 a.m. to go to the gym before work), we’re bound to fail, only fuelling the endless cycle of feeling bad about our misses, how we screwed it up, and how we MUST be better. 

Why do we do this to ourselves? What if we shifted our focus, just a little bit? 

What if we rethought “making resolutions” as an opportunity to “set goals”? Not only do we dispel this idea that we didn’t do enough in the past year (because - newsflash - you kicked butt this year!) but we also refocus our internal efforts on growing rather than changing. 

I find goals more attainable, more approachable. They’re things I can break down into smaller pieces and apply to my days, with the aims of a cumulative effect. Resolutions somehow expect results right away; goals know they require some time. 

So, How Do You Set Your Goals?

I’m sure you’ve heard of the SMART framework, but if you haven’t, it’s honestly a really great way to develop your goals. 

SMART is a handy mnemonic, standing for: 

• Specific

• Your goal(s) need to have an identifiable outcome, something that’s easy to understand.

• Measurable

• You’ve got to have a way to track your progress, so decide what data will be used and how you’ll track it. 

• Achievable

• Big, big goals are good, too, but you need some realistic, achievable ones, too. Even if you’re breaking those big goals down into smaller pieces, you need to be able to execute.

• Relevant

• Your goals have to mean something to you. If they aren’t relevant to what you want to achieve, then what’s the point? 

• Time-Bound

• Deadlines are good. They give us something to work against and to be accountable for. 

You want each of your goals, whatever they may be focusing on, to embody these five elements. Without all five, you’re setting the goals but missing the plan to reach them. By defining your goals with this method, sometimes you find other things you want to accomplish you hadn’t considered yet. It’s a great way to shimmy out of your comfort zone and truly grow in new, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, ways. 

But Now What? Follow Through! 

Write it down! Whether you’re a post-it note fan like me, or you want it on your desktop, write your overarching goals down and keep them visible. You’ll find it motivating, these colourful little reminders. 

Keep track of your progress. We’re all usually pretty good at this part, as it’s a way to see how far we’ve come and how far we’ve got left to go. The trick here is not to over-track. Some changes happen really slowly. While you may not see changes daily, if you back-off your check-ins, you’ll start to see the small micro-movements. 

Lastly, celebrate those wins. Whether it’s a treat to yourself, a celebration with your team, or just the subtle sense of satisfaction, don’t forget to celebrate. You’re doing the work, you’re getting to where you want to go. Hell yes, you should enjoy the fruits of your labour. 

From all of us here at Reimagine Work, we hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season. Go easy on yourself - regardless of what your season looks like, find some time to breathe, set a goal or two, and simply revel in how far you’ve come. 
We will see you in the new year! And if you have any questions or want to talk more about all things HR, you can reach us at connect@reimaginework.ca. (PS: Our offices will be closed December 22 to January 2.)