How to Crush Your Goals in 2019

Let's face it: most of us make our New Year's goals around 12:00 a.m. on January 1st  and by February we are wondering what we've gotten ourselves into. Each year we look toward the next 365 days and say, 'this year I will accomplish [blank].' Business Insider recently posted an article stating 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February with some failing as early as January 12th. We get so excited about the New Year and our new selves, but this excitement quickly fades with the busyness of life and discomfort of change. 

Sticking to our goals doesn't have to be that complicated if we can understand three simple ideas when making and setting our goals. By following AAA (Accountability, Attainability, and Action) we can crush our goals and see them through January 12th and beyond.  I have unpacked in brief detail the AAA's below:

• Accountability – Thinking of a goal can often be the easy part, it's like creating a Christmas list. We put down what we want and expect Santa to leave it under the tree. It takes a little more thinking and planning then just writing it down. To achieve our goals, we must create a plan and then share the plan and goal with someone else. By sharing our goals and plans we now have others to hold us accountable. When we make a public commitment, we gain the sense of a community supporting us and cheering for success. Others hold us accountable, our plans hold us accountable to the tasks.​


• Attainable – Start small and keep it specific. Most goals fail because they are too vague and lack any meaning to us. Identify what you are passionate about and your pursuit won't feel like a punishment. Start with the end in mind, answer the question 'what will my life look and feel like if I accomplish this goal?' After you answer the question pursue that dream with all that you have.  Small achievements day-by-day turn into big accomplishments over time.
  
  
• Action – Like Nike says, "Just do it!" Begin every day with a positive attitude. Know that change is uncomfortable but through discomfort comes great things. If you slip up, forgive yourself and get back at it. People that do great things and crush their goals persevere through failure and see it as an opportunity to re-evaluate and begin again.

Follow these simple steps and make 2019 your greatest year yet!

​By: Brandon Umphrey