New You, New Year

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

2026 Approaches!

Do you create goals for yourself or your business? This can become a surprisingly heated debate with folks firmly "yay" or "nay" on goals.

When Is A Good Time?
Short answer--any time! No need to wait for January 1. If you're feeling inspired, it's the perfect time to heed the call. It doesn't need to be the first of the week, month, quarter, or year. Those are handy markers, but any time is good. 


How to Approach Goal Setting
There is a "goal guru" wherever you look. There are different approaches and styles to test out to see what resonates with you. A few ideas have been covered on this blog here, here, here, and here. 

A Different Way of Thinking
A Content Inc podcast by Joe Pulizzi, episode 521, talks about approaching 2026 with intention. Identify what really matters as we approach the new year. Per his show notes--"It's not about doing more...it's about doing less but with intention." 

Mic drop. 

Doing Less
Before we imagine all the new things we'd like to do going forward, let's consider a time or calendar audit or even gut check on what to do less of. Note: all of these "what" questions can just as easily be "who" questions.

• What's dragging you down?
• What stresses you out or frustrates you?
• What is not moving you toward your goals or plan?

Every "Yes" Is A "No" to Something
This is a tough one. Life is just so exciting and full of possibility, It's so easy to want to do all the things! But there are only so many hours in a day in a lifetime. The book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman does a great job of bringing this point home. This may be why the concept of removing tasks, people, meetings, and activities resonates with me. 

"Focus on What Truly Lights You Up"
Now that we've asked some hard questions and realized what we need to say "no" to, we can think hard about what we wish to say "yes" to. 

• What will help you meet your life goals or work/life balance?
• What will move you forward in your work?
• What activities—or people—do you truly enjoy? 

Life is short—be happy! It's also far better for your health and wellness. 

How Long for Goals?
Everyone has a different goal tolerance for how long to set your goal or your goal approach. The second Friday in January has become known as Quitters Day. Seriously. For those that focus on January 1 for resolutions, there is a large majority who don't stick with them longer than two weeks!

If you're reading this, you've likely been on and off the goal wagon many times. You know yourself about goals. Joe Pulizzi has recently discovered Misogi goals--one powerful but meaningful challenge for 90 days. The approach is to keep that one goal in mind with a daily plan of how to achieve it in  90 days, pushing all else to the side. 

For business folks, quarterly goals may work, breaking down an annual goal into four pieces. OKR's (Optimal Key Results) may work for you with steps built on the path to the goal. Julia Taylor of GeekPack has a fabulous analogy about this approach. Think of a cross-country road trip with plenty of curves along the path—never a straight line—and identify key stops (mini-goals or check points) along the way. 

Others of us may need far shorter than year-long goals. Focusing on just one quarter with 30-day check points may be more effective for you. A month with weekly goals may be even better so you can feel successful with how your brain and focus work best. 

Block the Calendar
Yup. You heard me. Make time for the thing you want to focus on to make it happen.

• You've done a calendar review or time audit for a few days.
• You've identified what (or who) to say "no" to, clearing your plate to focus on select "yes" items. 
• You've identified that one thing, or no more than a couple of goals, to maximize your focus and success. 
• Now make it important enough to put it on your calendar as a high priority item, avoiding shifts or rescheduling where possible. 
  • Looking for exercise time? Set the clock earlier than usual or schedule it after work before distractions of home.
  • Aiming for journaling time to focus your thoughts and add clarity? Find your best rhythm in the day for it—maybe before the house wakes up or before bed to clear your mind.
  • Focusing on your business and need strategic thinking time? Calendar a couple of hours on Friday, maybe end of day when the rest of the world checks out early for the weekend. Make it a no meeting time. 

What Is  Your Goal Strategy?
​Are you a Goal Master and regularly move yourself and your goal posts further? Or do you struggle with goals and aren't quite sure what model suits you? 

I really like the remove items first approach. I'll be adding that twist to my plans this year! I'm a big fan of "start goals any time," but now does feel like a great time to prepare before January 1.

Love to hear your approach! Let's Chat or find me on LinkedIn!

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