Start by deciding what you wish to strive for this year. Are there things that you had intended to do this year, but somehow never got around to doing? Begin your list of possibilities with these items. What dreams do you have? Add in items that are things you've always wanted to do but have been too busy, too young, too old, too afraid, too financially strapped, or whatever "too" phrase to do. Now, make sure you have listed items in each of the several main categories of life: family, professional, spiritual, health/fitness, and financial.

Take your list and make each item specific. Instead of "I want to lose weight this year", specify "I will lose 20 pounds this year". Instead of "I want to create a savings cushion", specify "I will save $25 from each paycheck". Instead of "I want to eat healthier", specify "I will eat at least 2 more servings of vegetables per day". You get the idea.

Did you also notice the change in wording? Instead of wanting or intending to do something, you have created an affirmation by stating that you WILL do this item. In addition, you've added a timeframe. Congratulations! You've just created goals! A goal is a specific target with a specific timeframe.

Deciding your goals is actually only the first part of goal setting. You now need to figure out how you're going to get there.

Next, break down each goal on your list into steps. There may be sporadic, periodic, monthly, weekly, or even daily steps depending on the exact goal. Some goals will have many steps; some will have only a few steps. You will find that some of your steps can be broken down into even smaller steps.

Let's say you've decided to save $25 from every paycheck to create a savings cushion. If you don't already have a savings account, step 1 is to open one. Another step involves setting up the transfer of that money into your savings account. If your paycheck is already direct-deposited, check with your company to see whether you can specify that a certain amount go into your savings account while the rest goes into your checking account. Also, some banks will let you set up an automated periodic transfer into your savings account, which just might save you the service charge on that account! So, only one or two steps for this goal scenario.

What about the goal to lose weight? First we break the goal into two categories of steps: exercise and eating. On the exercise side, say you've decided that you're going to do cardio exercises 3 times a week and strength-training exercises 3 times a week. You would then break each of these two steps down into how long you would do each type of exercise, the exact exercises, your rotation schedule of the exercises, etc. On the eating side, you would decide what food changes you needed to make (adding veggie servings per day, cutting sugar servings per day, replacing certain high-calorie foods with lower-calorie nutrients, no snacking after dinner, eating only 1 cookie instead of a handful when you're craving sugar, etc). The possible steps are numerous for this goal scenario.

We've decided our goals for the New Year and broken them down into steps. Now the final phase - begin the steps that you determined for your goals. Begin them now. Don't wait for a special starting time (January 1, next week, after this big party). A big part of the battle is just starting that momentum. What steps can you do today towards your goals?

Write these steps on the calendar or add them in your computer, PDA, or cell phone scheduling program. Until you make a habit of them, or especially if the steps are periodic, this will help you remember them.

And if you miss a day of goal steps? You just start again the next day with where you last were. Goals aren't broken like resolutions. Goals are a target for which you are aiming. You may find as you go through the year that you make course adjustments in reaching your goal, but the goal still remains.

Need some help with possible goals? Below are a few suggestions in each of the main life categories. Some of these will actually cross category boundaries. By no means is this a complete list of possible goals. No goal is too small!

Family

We will volunteer as a family once a month at…

We will have a family picnic on the 3^rd Saturday of every month.

We will have family game/movie night every Monday night.

Our family will visit [insert name of place] this summer. (also financial, and may even be in the spiritual category depending on the location)

Professional

I will attend 2 seminars this year to further my professional skills.

I will read 1 Management/Technology/etc book each month to improve my/learn new professional skills.

I will complete 1 CBT (Computer-Based Training) course each month to learn new skills.

Spiritual

I will meditate/pray for 10 minutes a day.

I will join a weekly/monthly church study group.

Everyday, I will read my list of blessings.

Health/Fitness

I will eat one less serving of sugar a day.

I will count to 10 and deep-breathe every time I get angry to help lower my blood pressure.

I will every month change one more cleaning product to a less-toxic alternative.

I will walk around the block 2 times every day after I return from work.

Financial

I will pay an extra $30 a month on my credit card bill to pay it off faster.

I will replace my incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs.

I will add $1 every day to my mad-money shopping-spree cash fund.

About the Author

Marie Rice lives in Melbourne, Florida with her family. Marie is owner of Part Of The Whole, has done technical computer support for 15 years, and has been a motivational coach for even longer. To learn some of the ways that she helps others achieve their dreams, visit www.partofthewhole.com/BizOpps.html

Ó2005, Part Of The Whole.