On Goals and Resolutions
Every year around this time, goals and resolutions are on everyone’s mind. Some do it very seriously, some for just social pressure. Sometimes as a way to set targets, sometimes to build better habits.
Goals could be (and should be) both personal and professional. Quite often, people end up setting up too much professionals goals and spend all their time and energy in trying to achieve it.
It is important that we set some personal goals as well, for it allows us to spend more time with oneself and develop ourselves better.
So I was happy when I read Vikrama Dhiman’s tweet on what is a personal goal you have set for yourself in 2021. It allowed me to pause and reflect for a bit, as I answered this question.
The most common of them all being that of losing weight (run, going to the gym, change eating habits, etc).
Needless to say, resolutions break faster than they have been created. Ask the gym owners who get a deluge of gym memberships, but attendance reduces as the months pass by.
Many researchers have researched upon this and tried to understand the phenomenon. A lot of it is rooted in psychology and personal motivations, which are a confluence of multiple factors.
Over the years, I stopped using the word Resolution and replaced it with Goals. I find the word resolution to be too harsh. A goal sounds more target-oriented and is better aligned with the Objectives one aspires to achieve.
Goals also allow me the mind space to accept that if I am not able to give a 100% on a particular day, I know I can bounce back by doubling my effort the another day.
One thing I am cautious about when I am setting goals is to be more realistic. You want to get a sense of achievement when completed. That completion high does wonders for one’s self confidence. Getting this right is key.
Yes we have promoted BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) often during professional OKRs setting exercises, but when it comes to personal goals, I really like to emphasis on the realistic bit.
A few personal goals I’ve set for this year, which I feel are pretty realistic in nature.
- Launching my father’s hospital, fulfilling his dream to bring quality healthcare to rural masses in Bihar.
We are targeting to launch this by July-August 2021 and are midway into the construction. COVID and the harsh north Indian winters have delayed the progress, but we are still hoping to reach the goal.
2. More road trips with my elder daughter, at least one a quarter, expanding the travel to more states across India and maybe a few countries. She will be 7 in February. Celebrate her 7th birthday, we have one planned already.
The reason for this is simple. I love to travel school, showing kids the world in its realistic form. Meet people, learn from cultures. This will also allow me to spend more time with my children (the younger one is just 3 months old now, and will join the traveling club soon).
3. Run a 10k by September 2021. This has been on my radar for a few years. A couple of years ago, I had managed a 8.5 km run.
I have been doing 5k runs pretty regularly. So its high time I shift gears to reach this goal.
I am using a combination of crossfit exercises with a personal coach from CoolCoach and running training to help me with this goal.
What are your goals for 2021?
#productivity #goals #inspirations
