Year End Goal Review – 2010
This blog passed its one year anniversary last August (!), so this is my first annual review with history!
In December 2009, I recommended brainstorming goals, ranking them, and then getting specific (or SMART). I was very prescriptive and detailed about how and when I would work towards these goals.
This year, I'm approaching Jan 1 with a very different mindset.
What's Changed?
I don't think I was wrong in 2009. Really thinking hard about what you want to do (and what you won't do instead), and how you're going to achieve your goals is an important skill. Only after a few years of practice did I learn how to spot conflicting and reinforcing goals, and how to really stick on a goal and track it until it was achieved. Only by thinking hard about the reasons I was failing to meet these goals and deadlines did I learn how to finally succeed. I think the process might still be valuable if you need to build discipline, or if you're new to this type of thinking.
But I'm starting to come around to Leo's way of thinking. It's time to try a year with no goals.
I accomplished a lot in 2009, but it's getting to the point where the process is getting in the way of progress. I have too many goals to track, too many times when not being there "yet" caused me stress and anxiety. A lot of the sub-goals really should have been tracked as projects and habits , and tackled one at a time in a more focused manner.
The Year End Goal Review Process, 2010 vintage
1. Review the previous year
It is still good to review your previous year's ambitions, and to make note of your successes and failures.
It's easy to keep marching towards a goal - adding "lose weight" to the list year after year after year, but unless you take the time to figure out what is going wrong, you're never going to make it stick. It's also important to celebrate successes, to add up what you've done in a small chunk of time and say "wow". 
You might not be at the top of the mountain yet, but you're a long way from where you've started!
2. Write "A Picture of Where I am TODAY"
From my goals, I can get a sense of what I had and had not accomplished by the end of last year, but it's really hard for me to remember how I was then. What was weighing most on my mind? What was I feeling good about? What was I excited to tackle? That's why I'm starting this year with a paragraph describing my life as I see it today. How do I feel about my current situation? What's going well? What needs to change?
3. THREE MISSIONS
This is how I am replacing goals. I chose one major thing that I really want to fix, and it's what I'm going to pour most of my energy into in the beginning of the year. It's made up of hundreds of tiny projects, but it's all in the name of one vision. Every day, I'm going to act towards this one objective. The deadline is "TODAY. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." It will take as long as it takes, as long as I'm working on it and it gets done.
I chose two other missions as well, but I'm not going to act on them until the first main objective is achieved. The third one is something that I don't even expect to think about until it's fall or winter. It's a "stretch goal" if you want to think about it that way 
This year, instead of trying to act on a bunch of different goals at the same time, I'm going to pour all of my energy into ONE THING until it is DONE. I'll still have other things that will come up (I'll have to do the dishes, and taxes are due in April no matter what goals you've committed to), but all of my time management skills and focus are going to be on this ONE THING.
4. THREE HABITS
Start with the habit that is going to make the biggest difference in your life. The difference between a habit and a
mission is that the mission does have a point where you can say "mission accomplished". A new habit is something that you do regularly, and once it's built you should never stop. Focus on building just the first one, and when it becomes automatic, move to the next.
5. THREE REMINDERS
You can think of these as a cross between a resolution and a mantra. Missions and Habits define WHAT you're going to do next year, but reminders are how you're going to do it. Here are mine:
- What can I do to help someone?
- Stop overthinking everything.
- Enjoy Today.
There's no task, habit or project that I can tie to "enjoy today". It's just something I want to remind myself to do. Three might be too many, but I've written them on a card pinned it near my monitor. We'll see how it goes.
6. Write "A Picture of Where I will be in one year"
Just like the picture of where I am today, I wrote this short paragraph in first person present. When next December rolls around, what will have changed?
What will I have accomplished? How will I spend my days? How will I feel? Think of it like a short-term version of the "ideal day" exercise.
"It would be amazing if..." This is your stretch goal. What would you be amazed by, if your future self came back from one year in the future and told you they'd done it? Words are the first step to action.
Will I have a completely different opinion and process at the end of 2011? Maybe. As long as I'm working and learning, I'm okay with that.
By the way, since December 2009 I:
- Launched a new WastedTalent.ca in Februrary that fixed a lot of major problems
- Had the Winter Olympics come through my town
- Took some big steps to further my career
- Was featured in Reader's Digest and the Toronto Star for my comic work
- Kayaked the Broken Islands (3 days of kayaking from island to island in the Pacific)
- Finished a major apartment reno, and really improved my space
- Went to 5 comic conventions, one which was curated, and one I was an invited guest at
- Got Married
- Finished and printed my first book
- Went on a huge adventure in Thailand - my first time in Asia!
I don't expect as impressive a checklist at the end of next year, but the goal is to evolve. Every dawn brings new opportunity. Go kick some ass!
5 Ways to Fight the Blahs
We all fall prey to 'the blahs' sometimes. You know how it is:
You're not sick, you're wide awake (usually the middle of the afternoon), but you're bored and unable to get motivated to do much of ANYTHING. There's things that you should do, could do, might do, but you can't even get into procrastinating. You're not necessarily sad or depressed, just... uninspired.
When you're suffering from the blahs, it's easy to get sucked into passive timetraps like TV. You know you should get up. You know you should finish that thing or work on something or call so-and-so back... right after one more episode of Lost.
The blahs are one of the enemies between you and your goals. Here are five ways to fight:
1) Shut down your time traps.
Turn off the TV. Close distractions on your computer. Better yet: step away from the computer altogether for awhile. The first step to getting out is to make the choice to NOT get sucked into something. Even if you're just staring at a wall, that's better than being amused to death.
2) Get a pen and paper.
Put the pen on the paper. Move the pen. It doesn't matter whether you're writing or drawing or just making random marks. Making your hands move is the first step to getting your thoughts flowing. As thoughts flow, energy flows, and soon you will be moving again. (writing not your thing? As an alternative you can bounce a ball against a wall...not recommended for <800sqft apartments)
3) Go outside and explore. (ON FOOT)
Often I find that the blahs are a result of cabin fever. Find an excuse and a destination - it can be anywhere as long as it's farther than to the corner coffee shop and back. Stretch your eyes (focus on things at a distance), take the time to look and examine your surroundings. Investigate shops you've never taken the time to enter before. Take a bus somewhere random (the same bus will always be able to take you back).
Find somewhere new. It's stimulating, and a sure cure for the blahs... as long as you can get yourself motivated enough to get out the door!
4) Go see a friend, or just give them a call.
Is it too cold or rainy to get motivated to go outside? Seek stimulation from other people - just NOT on the internet!! The computer is a timetrap. If you can't get through, call a parent or grandparent. Trust me - they ALWAYS want to talk.
5) Don't fight it.
Sometimes the blahs are a sign of creative burnout. If you're an introvert, you may just need some alone time. Instead of forcing yourself back to the grindstone, take some time to creatively recharge. Get inspired - read or re-read an interesting book, lay back and listen to an audiobook or your favourite album.
Sometimes we just need a BREAK.
If you choose option 5, think of it as a sick day for your brain. You're proactively electing to lose one day to the blahs instead of a week to lackluster creativity. If you're in day 2 or 3 of the blahs, get off your butt and try some of those earlier tips!!
The blahs are no fun, get inspired and go kick some ass!
What do you NEED?
Have you ever felt guilty for being sad, even though you have so much?
Ever wonder why money never seems to be enough, even though, compared to many others in the world, you are wealthy? Have you tried to motivate yourself with some material reward, but you didn't end up getting anywhere? Why not?
There are many things that our bodies need.
The lizard brain (amygdala) deep inside us drives us to find food, safety, shelter and sex. When we need these things it is VERY hard to ignore. ("You won't like me when I'm HUNGRY!")
It feels selfish to be sad when these base needs are satisfied. We are so lucky just to be safe and fed.
But the mind itself also has needs.
- Companionship.
- Self-Worth.
- Challenge.
Needs don't exist in isolation, they exist in a HIERARCHY.
Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological > Safety > Social > Esteem > Self-Actualization
BASE NEEDS
Your CORE needs. If these needs are not met, nothing else really maters
- Phisiological Needs: Hunger, Thirst, Shelter, Sex
- Safety Needs: Security, Protection from physical and emotional harm
INTERMEDIATE NEEDS
Humans, for better or worse, are social creatures. Our mind craves human interaction, and if our social needs aren't met, it leads to deep feelings of unhappiness. It's an archetype we're all familiar with: the miserable millionaire without any true friends.
- Social Needs: Affection, belongingness, acceptance, friendship
HIGH LEVEL NEEDS
Even the luckiest people - those with wealth, family and wonderful friends, can start to feel unsatisfied. At this point, you start to spend a lot of time worrying about your 'purpose', lamenting wasted talents and missed opportunities. High level needs drive us to better ourselves, they are why we get such a charge out of learning something new, or achieving something that, on a fundamental level, may not matter (as in, it isn't directly keeping us alive and safe).
- Esteem Needs: Self-respect, autonomy, achievement, status, recognition
- Self-Actualization Needs: Growth, achieving one's potential, self-fulfillment
These needs do not necessarily go in order. More than one need may be working to motivate you at the same time.
The point is this: Unsatisfied needs motivate. Satisfied needs don't motivate.
This is why you don't feel satisfied, even when compared to so many others you are so, so lucky. I mean, you're sitting here in the 21st century reading my words on the internet! You're not out working in a field. You have electricity! You might be lucky enough to be loved, to have dear friends and a great family.
When all of these needs are wholly satisfied, you start searching for more.
What is my purpose in life?
Am I achieving my full potential?
I wish I could be recognized for my talents.
So what should you do?
- Take stock of what you have and be grateful- you really are lucky!
- Don't feel guilty for wanting more. You can't change your brain!
- Look at the needs that may not be fulfilled: a sense of belonging, self-respect, fulfilment. Are one of those intrinsic needs unfulfilled for you? Maybe that's where you need to look next to seek happiness.
- Set, review or adjust your goals: If you already have enough money to survive, but all of your goals are financial, this may be why you're not motivated to meet them, or why you still feel unhappy when you ARE meeting your goals. Reframe your goals in terms of what you really may need: make new friends, improve yourself, gain a new skill.
Enjoy Today
This has been my personal mantra lately. The end goal is happiness... but why wait?
You have to do your best to enjoy every single day, to enjoy the journey itself. Otherwise, the miserable weeks, months and years you spent trying to achieve your goals may not have been worth it.
So ENJOY TODAY.
Do your best to:
- use the hours productively towards your most important goals
- have as much fun as possible while you're doing it
- be calm and nice to people
- remember what matters and let go of what doesn't
Don't beat yourself up for not being a superhero. Don't let things that you can't control make you angry or sad. Relish in happy moments and seize opportunities to have fun.
As long as you're doing your best, as long as you're alive, you have a responsibility to your mind to be as happy as you possibly can be.
We only get one shot at today. Make the most of it.
Seven OTHER Reasons to Get Healthy
WHY GET HEALTHY?
Okay okay, so we all know that being healthy is better than being unhealthy. There are lots of differing opinions on what exactly 'healthy' is, and there's disagreement on the best ways to get there. But hopefully we can agree: health is good. Health is important.
And yet, when it comes down to it-- getting to the gym (ah-GAIN), putting down that donut, quitting that destructive habit... we stall. We cave into the short-term benefit and lose out on the long-term goal.
Sometimes it seems that the "because being healthy is good for you" is not quite enough to make ourselves commit to enduring something mildly unpleasant. So I'd like to share with you some of my OTHER reasons to get healthy. It's silly, but these superficial reasons are sometimes much more motivating!
Your Secret Weapon Against Procrastination: a Count-Up Timer
Some people might say that using a timer is taking the term "Time Management" a bit too literally, but I've found my simple count-up timer to be an invaluable asset. Here's what you need, and five different ways you can use it to get a productivity boost.
Build an Inspiration Board in 6 Steps!
I very much want this blog to be about practicing what I preach. I've often come across, and even mentioned in passing, the concept of an "inspiration board".
If you are a visual learner, the inspiration board is the best way to put together a picture of what you want your life to be like.
I like the concept a lot, and awhile ago I started to collect pictures of what I wanted to put onto my board, but I hadn't yet got off my butt and gotten it DONE.
WELL NOT ANYMORE, I am pleased to report that I am now the proud owner of my very own inspiration board! I thought I would share with you all my personal process, and my collage tips for those of you who might be less experienced in the crafty side of things.