It's getting to be that time of year for a little reflection and introspection in preparation for 2010. I've been reading a blog that provides a worksheet for conducting an annual review and for goal-setting for the next year so I've been working with that for a while. Most programs involve identifying goals and then breaking the actionables to achieve those goals into quarterly increments. The goals fall into one of several categories: health, spiritual, financial, occupational, educational, relationships, etc. All the self-analysis tools I've used to define my job search include suggestions to periodically evaluating my life to keep on track or reassess directions.
While visiting family out West this past week, I've had a surprising amount of Me Time to be reflective in this way. Most kids, in turns out, do not stay up past 9pm so there's quiet time when babysitting, and driving to and from one sister to another is a 3.5hr commute one-way. I've come up with some concrete financial goals so far; that was easiest. For the others, it's hard to know what is too grandiose and what is too easy. For example, I'd like to set a health goal to run the Philadelphia Distance Run next fall but that may be a physical impossibility. I still consider myself a runner, but I haven't been able to keep it up since Thanksgiving 3yo ago when I popped my iliotibial band. I tried physical therapy two years ago which helped, but then we switched insurance and I stopped going. Maybe, for 2010, I'll make it a health goal to answer the question if I can still be a runner and, if not, to identify what is the next sport. Another health goal will be to lose 5lbs and keep it off, dammit, for all of 2010. Educational is relatively simple: figure out if I'm doing an MPH or MS Communications and take 2 course a quarter to put it to bed.
My occupational goals will require some of the hardest work, I think. During this whole layoff I was focused, alternately, on finding a new job and struggling with the decision to go back to school full-time for a PhD. When discussing a job offer with a friend, she said "That's fine for now, but what about your next career?" It was a lightening bolt moment. I was a scientist for over 12yrs. Now, I'm not. (I haven't identified the title for this current phase of my career, yet.) I made do without a PhD for the first 12 and can most likely get by for another 12. But what about the 12yrs after that? And after that? I don't want to be sitting on a park bench talking about career options with a friend, internally berating myself for not having done X sooner. So, for 2010, my goal will be to take the necessary steps to figure that out because regret sucks.
How do you prepare for a new year? Are you one of those people who sees Jan 1 the same way you see every other day of the year? Or do you, too, see each page of the calendar as an opportunity to reinvent, get it right, make over, revolutionize your life? Or am I the only product of Madison Avenue?
2010. No goals, no targets. They represent nothing but hope and hope as we all know is not a strategy!
ReplyDeleteI have resolved however and continue to apply myself every day, to learning, becoming better at being a decent person, identifiying and avoiding stupidity and ignorance, questioning orthodoxy, working hard and at the end of the year will measure the result and be content.
As long as I have done my best and not settled then all else is well.