Why not start the new year off with a B-A-N-G?
"But the noble man makes noble plans."
-- Isaiah 32:8 ( NIV)
Why not start the new year off with a bang?
I'm not talking about lighting a firecracker or firing a pistol. I'm referring to a few powerful steps we can take to move forward.
B-A-N-G can be our acronym, meaning begin a new goal.
The beginning of a new year is often a time we use to start fresh.
As a nurse, I have helped many patients move forward utilizing goal planning.
First, establish your goal. State what you want to change or accomplish. The first step is to make your goal realistic. If you set your sights too high, you may fail before you begin. An example is if you want to lose 100 lbs., start off with a goal of 20 lbs. or so and work from there.
Next step in meeting a goal is to examine the problems you are having that keep you from fulfilling it. If your goal is better time management, you may look at how organized you are or what type of interruptions or activities are stealing away at your time.
Setting a time to answer e-mails could help eliminate constant e-mail checks that disrupt your train of thought. Spending too much time on conversations could be a time stealer. Learning to cut them short and sticking to the point could help. Channel flipping when watching TV can steal a lot of precious time. If you've flipped for longer than 20 minutes, it may be that your time would be better spent playing with the kids, talking with your spouse or performing another task. You might check the TV guide rather than wasting precious time.
The next step is implementing your plan. Once you've identified the problems and solutions, start implementing the solutions to the problems. You might make a list of what you plan to do, so you refer to it from time to time.
The last step is to constantly evaluate if and how you are meeting your goal. If you're not making progress, go back to your problem column and look at what might be getting in your way. Also find a friend, spouse or coach who will help you stay accountable to meet your goal. There's nothing like a good support system to keep you from giving up.
Wise planning can make all the difference in reaching your goal.