Time to Reflect

The fall is an opportunity to not only set new goals for the months to come but to remember those resolutions you made at the start of the year. Revisiting the hectic spring and summer months will reaffirm those goals and help you build momentum for the New Year. Don’t let this year’s goals carry over into next year.

Here are some ideas for taking stock of the past months and adjusting or resetting your goals for the future:

Review. Looking at where you’ve been tells you where you want to go. Think back on the year so far and the goals you set back in January. What were your big victories? What slowed you down? What would you have done differently if you had to do it over again? Taking the time to review these simple questions can make a huge difference in setting the tone for the rest of your year. 

Plan. There are probably items on your list you still want to make happen, right? Put them on the top of your To-Do list. This is helpful particularly if you know you have some big things coming up next year. Stop making excuses and accomplish those 2019 goals!

Start Small. A fresh start resets old ways of thinking and behaving, giving you an opportunity to change. Setting goals that are too far-flung can overwhelm you, which ultimately leads to disappointment. So instead of planning the entire year like you would in January, think about some short-term goals.

Find What Motivates You.  Are you a people person but stuck in a job that requires lots of alone time? Maybe that’s why your work goals seem so daunting. Figuring out what drives you means knowing what really matters to you. Remember to set goals that allow you to use this internal motivation. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done.

Uncover Your Strengths. These are your talents, skills, and abilities—the things that people praise and seek your guidance for. Knowing what you’re best at allows you to take advantage of opportunities; most of the time these strengths and skills are the things we love to do or what we’re naturally good at. If your goals aren’t aligned with your strengths and skills, think about slowly shifting them towards what you really thrive at. This will make them much easier to achieve them.

Define Your Beliefs. Your strengths address “what?” Your values and principles answer “how?” These underlying beliefs steer everything you do and help define who you are or want to be. If you don’t value money, then reaching a sales goal probably won’t be easy. But if helping people is an underlying belief, then a goal of having 100% customer satisfaction could really get you moving.

The fall is a great time for reflection. Try turning over a new leaf and use these ideas to help you get a firm grasp on those last few goals of yours. Getting things in order for the rest of the year will help you feel less overwhelmed when the craziness of the holidays hit. Just sayin’.

Published: New Mexico Apartment News Magazine – Sept/Oct 2019