New Year, New Me: Goals for 2020

Originally posted in December 2019. But a quarter into the, now seems like a good time to check in.

It’s that time of year where we start to look back and reflect. We think about what’s gone well, but mostly we tend to focus on what’s gone wrong. We tend to see the new year as a chance to start over. A chance to ignore the bad stuff, or our ‘bad selves’, and turn over a new leaf the minute the clock strikes 12.

I, like many of you I’m sure, have felt this before. Year after year I make New Year’s Resolutions and within a matter of weeks they’re broken or ‘readjusted’. This year, I’m setting some goals. But I’m also setting a strategy. Short, medium and long term goals that feel both realistic and exciting.

The long term goals fill me with excitement of far off dreams and distant plans. The short term goals give me some immediate focus — some things to check off as the first few weeks of 2020 pass by. The medium ones keep me in check, they’ll make sure I’m not veering off plan too quickly. And ultimately all three sets of goals unite. The short term and the medium goals are designed to help me reach my long term goals.

So this year I’m setting myself a challenge. I’ve bought a new journal, full of space for reflecting and checking in on my progress with these goals.

2020 Big Plans

I’ve got so many plans of things I want to achieve next year, and beyond, that I’m motivated to plan and to stick to it. I’ve wavered these past few months, reaching that time of year where everything gets a bit overwhelming and you need a good break. But now, I’m in a new job that I love and I want to get the most out of. I feel ambition coursing through my veins again and I want to cultivate that across every aspect of my life. My work, my passion, my blog, my studies and my health.

So I’m writing this post in part to hold me accountable for the goals I’ve set. But also to share my excitement for 2020 — it feels like a good year is dawning. It’s a new year, a new decade — who knows what’s in store, but I can’t wait to find out!

Some tips on how to plan a big 2020

Goals are a funny thing. As soon as you’ve reached them, after all that hard work, it’s time to set another one. It’s a constant, iterative loop that’s easy to get sucked into. So how should you set goals when they’re actually quite a transient thing? Take the attitude you should do as much as you can. Life is all about progress. So when you ask yourself how many books should you read, say, as many as you can. If you ask yourself what should you be. Aim to be everything you can be.

Build in your short, medium and long-term goals but remember -goals are transient. There’ll always be a new goal, there’s always be something else to work towards. Remember that’s ok. That’s part of the thrill of life. What we want, what we’re working for, what we’re longing to achieve — it all changes as we grow and weave through life.

So goals are transient. They’re both short and long term. And life is about making progress in the direction that you want to. Just because they’re transient doesn’t mean we should forget to celebrate. When you reach a goal, no matter how small or how big take a moment to celebrate. Whether you celebrate with loved ones, or treat yourself in the sales or even a long hot bubble bath. Whatever you want, celebrate your success. Enjoy the calm before the storm — before the cycle of goal setting continues.

Finally — prioritise your goals. It’s new years eve and you’ve written a bunch of goals. You’re preparing to be this whole new amazing version of yourself. Is that list realistic? Have you been too ambitious? Have a look at that list and pick out the four most important goals you hope to achieve for 2020. Put a mark next to them, circle them, highlight them, shower them in stars. However you do it make those four stand out. Make those the four goals your main focus for the year. Whatever happens, those are where your main focus should lie.

Share your 2020 Plans

What are your plans for the coming year? Are you done with New Year’s Resolutions or setting goals or have you jumped on the #goals band-wagon? I’d love to hear your thoughts below so drop us a comment at Sage Adventures.

Short Term Goals

• Fortnightly blog post on Sage Adventures (I’m reducing this from once a week to balance the rest of my goals. I’m aiming for achievable goals and not burnout.)
• Read, comment and share 3x blog posts per week from fellow bloggers. (Prepare to be flexible with this goal in order to prioritise others).
• Read a work related book every other month and review on HS Designs website. (Link to medium term goal of creation of said website).
• Review a travel (related) book every other month on Sage Adventures. (Reducing another objective to balance out with my career goals below).
• Maintain friendships by seeing friends more regularly — don’t forget to reschedule but set a date when I see them for the next catch-up.
• Get back to a weight I feel confident and comfortable with. Aim for 21% body fat (adjust depending on how my new scales measure.)
• Maintain use of my new goal setting diary (Make it last more than 1 month!)
• Stick to half marathon training plan (March 15th isn’t long now!)
• Run 3x per week (totalling more than 15km per week)
• Climb 2x per week
• Yoga after majority of exercise sessions (To protect knee and prevent further injury.)
• Create soft furnishings for the van: mattress cover and window blinds.

Medium Term Goals

• Read 30 books in 2020.
• Listen to 10 podcasts before the end of June.
• Write and post 1 blog per quarter for HS Designs website (this does not include the book reviews).
• Design, build and create HS Designs website.
• Pass PR & comms module for my Journalism course (April exam date).
• Get into the networking scene: make real connections and stage in touch. Grow LinkedIn network by 12 people through networking activities by the end of 2020.
• Grow Twitter social following 200% by end of 2020.
• Grow Pinterest social following — aim for 100 followers by end of 2020.
• Complete 50 Park Runs by the end of 2020.

Long Term Goals

• Work for myself: HS Designs is no longer just a placeholder website. Feel comfortable living the life of a ‘multi-passionate entrepreneur’. (Someone who loves to learn and do many different things).
• Blogging & writing provides enough income to act as part of my freelance / business offering. I can design my own life, based around my own skills and passion.
• Run a half marathon in under 2 hours.
• Find my way back to running full marathons, with no injury (long, long term goals).
• Obtain my Diploma in Journalism from the NCTJ.
• Save a total of £15,000 for our sabbatical in the van (T minus 2 years, 8 months and counting).
• Pay off £5,000 of my mortgage before my sabbatical. (Prepare to have been ambitious with saving goals but reach high!)
• Learn to balance my time to feel fulfilled and energised. Know when to stop and feel comfortable with taking a break.

Originally posted on Sage Adventures travel & wellness lifestyle blog: www.sageadventres.co.uk. Originally posted in December 2019.