Can you believe it’s already that time of year again? As we embrace the holiday season, we also begin to think about the year ahead. What will 2022 bring? What do we want to leave behind in 2021?

 

Every year, I like to make a list of intentions for the upcoming year. What do I want to start, eliminate, improve on, and more. However, it can be easy to become a bit too ambitious when creating your intentions, leaving you discouraged and frustrated when they don’t come to fruition. Let’s walk through how to create attainable goals that you can stick through in the upcoming year.

 

Step 1: Take Inventory

Before you create new goals, it’s important to take a look at what went well and what didn’t in the previous year. Did you intend to exercise 5 times a week, but only went twice a week? Were you planning on arriving to work 30 minutes early each day, but only managed 10 minutes? Don’t feel discouraged, this is data that will help you in creating this year’s intentions.

 

The point of creating intentions for the new year is to decide on small changes that you can stick to. If last year you only made it to the gym twice a week but wanted to go 5 times, set an intention to average 3 visits per week. It’s a small step up from last year, without being unreachable.

 

Step 2: Don’t Be Scared to Add Something New

As the saying goes, “New year, new you”. 2022 is a fresh start filled with possibilities. What do you want to try this year that you’ve never done before? What do you want to improve on? Don’t be afraid to add an intention or two to your list that is a bit out of left field. The key is it needs to be attainable. Do you have resources to achieve this goal? Do you have the time? If so, give it a shot!

 

Step 3: Recognize that Things Change

It’s important to recognize that as the year goes on, circumstances change and therefore intentions may change. The trick is, don’t give up on them, simply adapt. If February comes and your intention of going to bed at 10pm isn’t feasible anymore due to uncontrollable circumstances, simply adjust them based on what you can control. Perhaps 10pm isn’t an option anymore, but 11pm is. Don’t throw in the towel, just be flexible.

 

Step 4: Start Early

Who’s to say that new intentions must begin on January 1st? Having a hard start date to suddenly make several changes can be intimidating and set you up for failure. Instead, start subtly adding your intentions in now. Start your monthly reading intention now. Begin working on your 64oz of water per day today. By giving your intentions a chance before the big day, you’re creating habits and routines that lessen the blow.

 

Step 5: Give Yourself Grace

As much as we want to be perfect and achieve all that we set out to, most of the time life doesn’t work out the way we planned. Your list of intentions may not come to fruition the way you wanted them to, and that’s okay. The point of creating intentions is to make yourself just a little bit better than the year before. And if you’re only able to consistently accomplish one thing on the list next year, that means you’re just that much better than this year. And that is something to be proud of.

 

What’s on your list of intentions for 2022?

 

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About Debi

Debi is a coach to high performers, leaders and business owners wanting to achieve more and grow beyond what they believe is possible. Known for her clarifying insight and a pragmatic approach, Debi brings her clients to the next step by asking the right questions during strategy development and supporting them during strategy implementation. With experience in management, recruitment and employee development for various industries, she has a wide scope of expertise and will confidently guide you towards a successful future in your career.