2020 VISION — Setting and Meeting Goals

It’s a new year and decade for all. But for some, January 2020 was a trial month *raises hand*. Fortunately, it’s not too late to begin working on your resolutions or life-long goals. Sometimes, it’s not how you start, but how you finish. Here are some ways that may help you with your 2020 Vision:

MAKE YOUR BED

This may seem silly and insignificant, but by making your bed in the morning, you set the pace for the remainder of your day. It’s the first thing you get done, helping you feel organized, on top of it, and ready to take on the world. And just think — following a long and exhausting day, you come home to a freshly-made bed, creating a positive mental state. Additionally, a freshly-made bed increases relaxation and can help you fall asleep faster. These small, but gratifying accomplishments are an assurance that when you execute small actions consistently and create them into habits, you gain momentum that unavoidably leads to productivity. Furthermore, when you pursue these accomplishments daily, it motivates you to build a lifestyle that exercises discipline and skills you can apply to larger goals. TIP: Want to increase your productivity? Refrain from social media until AFTER you’ve made your bed (or cut down/out social media altogether) — IT WORKS WONDERS!

WRITE IT DOWN

It’s great to type or text your “to do” list on electronic devices, but there’s just something about putting pen to paper that is MAGIC — things get DONE. Writing allows you to see your thoughts externally, helping you focus, especially when you feel overwhelmed or scattered. It also creates more space in your mind for more important things and higher thinking. Try to list goals that are specific, measurable, actionable, and, most importantly, have a deadline — because goals don’t get done without one. Next, plan by writing the steps needed to achieve those goals. Once you begin to check things off your list, it provides you a sense of control and confidence to continue your progress. Remember — progress leads to productivity. The beneficial part about this process is that if you ever need a reminder of what actions to take, you know where to find them, allowing you the mental capacity to focus on working towards your goal without having to worry about forgetting them.

CREATE A VISION BOARD

Visualizing your goals is crucial to manifesting them. By projecting your visuals externally, you physically see and remember them. After writing down what you want to accomplish or attain, flip through magazines or search the internet for images, words, and quotes that align with your written goals. After you’ve gathered your pieces, start putting your board together. You can use markers, stickers, and textures to give your board some character and make it look attractive. For example, if you want a car, cut one out (it may not be the car you want, but it will remind you that you aim towards buying one). Place the board where you will see it daily. I recommend placing it in your room near your bed — this way, it’s the first thing you see when I wake up, and the last thing you see before you sleep. Continuously seeing your visual (externally) reinforces that picture back into your mind (internally), creating a powerful cycle that solidifies your goals into existence.

DECLUTTER

…both people and material things. Let go of the old to make room for the new. Surround yourself in a clean environment with minimal items. Seeing cluttered elevates stress, which can lead to anxiety. Your mind begins to think that there is more work to do, or that work will never get done, paralyzing you. Your brain attempts, but does not know how to process all the information it receives at once. This lowers your mental state and shuts down productivity. Decluttering clears your mind, and trains you to become efficient, saving time, and helping your efforts flow seamlessly towards your goals.

The same concept applies to individuals. People come into your life for a reason, season, or lifetime. And if the people currently in your life don’t align with your personal goals, you may need to either distance yourself or cut them off completely. This may be a difficult, but trivial sacrifice to build new and meaningful relationships with those who do align with your journey and destination.

CLEANSE

Cleanse yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally from toxic people and experiences. Clinging to thoughts and emotions attached to either can distract your mind and hold you back from moving forward. Find the will to eat right, drink lots of water, exercise and meditate, get proper rest, and adequate sleep — habits that can maintain the emotional stability and mental sanity needed to keep you going. Cleansing not only rids the body of impurities to optimize brain and body function, but it also provides the mind an opportunity to rehabilitate and heal. Remember, the intent is to clear your head to help you focus and think straight. Talk it out — the purpose of voicing your emotions is because you don’t want those feelings to remain internal — they will eat you alive. If verbally communicating your feelings is not a suitable option, write them down on a piece of paper and burn it as a symbol of releasing them. This process can aid you tremendously, allowing you the opportunity to master “cleaning out” distractions you are bound to face on the way, helping you hone in, harness, and accomplish your goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Externalize your thoughts and visuals to serve as a reminder.
Build constructive habits to initiate inspiration and progress.
Allow your mind and body to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate.
The less you have to weigh you down, the higher and faster you fly.
Acknowledge your challenges, but remember to celebrate your success.

What are some ways that have helped you?