Resolutions, Goals, and Intentions: How to Set and Follow Through Year-Round
Somehow, 2022 came and went. Now, 2023 is here, and ready to usher you into a new chapter. Whether you believe in the idea of “New Year’s Resolutions” or not, there’s still something to be said about, and gained from, the idea that setting annual goals is helpful—whatever those goals may be.
The intentions you make at the start of each year help set the tone for your outlook moving forward. They offer structure, accountability, and things to look forward to. This blog post is here to give you an outline for how to go about planning and carrying out your goals, but the rest is up to you! And as each year passes, you’ll get better and better at creating and accomplishing your goals.
Resolutions, Goals, & Intentions
You may use these words interchangeably, or feel that they’re different from one another. Regardless, the idea of resolutions, goals, and intentions help you take action. Here’s each one broken down:
Resolutions: Something you’re determined to solve, change, or act on.
Goals: Things you set out to achieve, whether that be accomplishments, milestones, etc.
Intentions: The energy that backs resolutions and goals, and supports the ideas you have for the future.
Now that you know the slight differences in each of these words, you can choose which one best suits you, and apply the variations in meaning to how you set up your goals.
How to Set Them
1. Start by brainstorming
I recommend creating categories to help you cover all your bases and areas of life. Two main categories to use are concrete goals vs. intentions. Concrete goals are more objective, specific things like: get a promotion at work, put x amount of money into savings, renovate the kitchen, etc. Intentions are goals that are a little more open ended. This includes things like starting a creative project, working out more, journaling, and spending more time with friends and family. You can also break things up into categories based on specific areas of your life including work, relationships, family, spiritual, etc.
2. Get time-bound and specific
Doing this will help you make a plan of action so your goals can actually come to fruition. For each goal, you’ll need to do two things. First, ask yourself “what does this actually look like?” and be specific. Second, give each goal measurable time frames. This should include one time frame that’s ideal, and one that’s realistic. The key here is to frame your goals in a way that gives you options. This way, you have a blueprint to follow if you want to go full speed ahead, and also a blueprint that allows for more balance. Here’s an example of what that looks like:
The goal: Reading more often
What this actually looks like: Reading 25 books in 2023, which breaks down to a little over 2 books each month. The intention behind this goal is to fill more in-between moments with reading instead of other activities like scrolling through social media.
Measurable time frames: Ideally, read for 30 minutes to an hour everyday. Realistically, try to read 2-3 days a week, when you can.
How to Follow Through Year-Round
Now that you’ve done the brainstorming and planning, how do you follow through? This is the main pressure point that often makes or breaks a goal’s success. There are many ways to help you follow through with your goals, but there are three really important ones.
1. Talk about your goals
Unless a goal is personal or private, it’s a good idea to be open about your new goals with the people you love and trust. Talking about it can help you “speak it into existence.” Sharing your goals with others will also open up space for them to support you and check in with you about it. Plus, the more you talk about it, the more likely you’ll be to hold yourself accountable, and make things happen.
2. Keep trying
Succeeding in and accomplishing your resolutions, goals, and intentions can be hard. No matter what your goal is—especially if it’s new—there’s likely to be a bit of a learning curve. Keep going. It takes a while to make a new habit stick, or to hit a milestone you’ve been chasing. Stay consistent and stay strong, and you’ll surprise yourself with just how much you’re capable of.
3. Check in with yourself
This one’s huge. Whether you check in with yourself weekly (especially at the beginning of the year), or just monthly, checking in with yourself is the best way to take your goals from an idea, to a reality. You can track your progress to see how far you’ve come, and use this to motivate you further. Checking with yourself also allows you to make adjustments as needed.
Final Thoughts…
Resolutions, goals, and intentions for a new year don’t have to be intimidating or feel like a chore or obligation. With a few exceptions, the things you set out to do this year should be for YOU. Don’t compare yourself to others' successes and progress. Stay focused and achieve your goals because YOU want to, even if it feels difficult sometimes.
You’ve got this!