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How To Make Beautiful Goals For 2016

New Years Resolutions are funny things. Some people are dead set against them and other people spend months preparing for the initiation of the next year’s plans. I don’t really mind if other people set resolutions or not but personally, I love it. I just love a brand new year, all clean and delicious and ready for me paint it red. I set a few positive intentions last year and I think it really made a difference to the tone of my year.

The trick is to keep your resolutions simple, direct and achievable. Resolutions like ‘lose a million kilos‘ and ‘save 70 bajillion dollars’ are a bit useless. Here are my resolutions for a banging 2016!

Focus on my business 

I’ve been blogging and writing full time for a few years now and it’s been an amazing ride but an unplanned one. This year I’m going to hire help, outsource, set goals for each quarter and find a killer accountant. And get a bad-ass Melanie Griffiths style power suit and perm and start walking to my office in sneakers. Boom! 2016 bitches.

Chose projects very carefully 

I’m a bit of a yes person and I’m always totally fomo so I tend to say yes more than I say no. Before I commit to any projects in 2016 I’m going to ask myself three questions.

Will this project benefit my business?

Will this project generate income?

Will this project make me incredibly, blissfully happy?

The answer must be yes to at least two of these questions otherwise the answer is no. If the answer is yes to all three then the answer is HELL YES!!!

Be mindful 

I’m very aware that I’m in a hard core career growth phase of my life and it’s definitely a big priority right now but it’s really important to take time off and value my moments away from my business. One of my resolutions last year was to stop working evenings and for the most part, I did. This year I’m going to not work evenings and be very mindful about the way I spend my time. If I’m out with friends, my phone will be in my bag. If I’m watching a movie at home, my computer will be totally turned off. Mindful moments in 2016 is where it’s at.

Create with intention

At the beginning of last year, I made a promise to myself to never publish a post on Smaggle that didn’t educate, entertain or empower my readers.  It’s made such a difference to the way I approach my work. I only want to produce posts that are helpful, enjoyable, beautiful or all three. I plan on doing this even harder this year. Get excited.

Prioritise my health

I’m generally quite good at this but I legitimately dropped the ball in November and December 2015. I said yes way too many times and ran myself quite ragged. I actually broke my own brain and had a teeny little episode. One that could have been avoided if I just trusted my gut and prioritised my health. Which I intend to do a lot of more of this year.

If you’re keen to set some resolutions yourself, try to aim them more towards habits than end goals.

Instead of…

I’m going to save $10,000 this year

Try…

I’m going to only buy my lunch at work 1 day per week and put the money I save in the bank.

Focus on the everyday changes in your behaviour and not the magical end zone you’re aiming for.

What about you? What are your new year resolutions? Any grand plans for 2016?

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11 Comments

  1. nonnuclearmaven 8 years ago

    I really love this!
    I have a little hard cover notebook that my friend bought back from the UK, it has “Evil Plans and Stuff” on the front. Every year I sit down and review the year and make some goals for the next year. Some years it’s really hard to find good points (2011/2012 was really bad for me) but bringing it back to simple things helps not get too bogged down in goals that weren’t achieved.
    May 2016 bring good fortunes to all!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Oh evil plans are the best plans! That’s why I think focussing on the behaviour and not the achievement is such a great idea. If you make the effort to change your every day habits as consistently as you can you can’t fail! Here’s to a beautiful 2016!

  2. Lisa 8 years ago

    Another great post Carly. My goal for 2016 is to be writing full time (and get paid for it). Still hit and miss in 2015. Will be thinking about my goals in more detail over the break. Enjoy the the Christmas & New Year break

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      That’s a fantastic goal. You can totally do it. Break the year up into quarters and give yourself goals for those quarters. So for quarter 1, focus on building your portfolio and securing 2 awesome clients. Then review at the end of quarter 1 and change your goals for quarter 2! x

  3. Jess Carey 8 years ago

    I’m with you on most of these… particularly being mindful and putting health first. Without health, nothing else can really happen!

    Have a great time celebrating tonight, can’t wait to keep reading in the new year! xo

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Thank you! You’re lovely! I’m very stoked with my resolutions this year – I received some tragic news yesterday and it’s put lots of things into perspective. Health and happiness first always!

  4. Alix 8 years ago

    Great post – love your deliberate intentions. I think 2016 will bring some big changes for me (well, I’ll be creating changes) and am looking forward to embracing all that encompasses.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Those are the best kind of changes! That way you’re in control and you don’t fell like you’re being dragged kicking and screaming into unfamiliar zones! I love the beginning of a New Year – bring it on!

  5. Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie 8 years ago

    Love your goals!
    I haven’t been much of a resolution setter the last few years, but I’m thinking I might do it for this year. I already have some ‘key words’ for the year floating around in my head, I just need to sit down and articulate them better to myself. 2015 was a spectacularly shit one for me, but 2016 is already looking more promising so fingers crossed it continues that way!
    ps. we need to wine again super soon xx

Pingbacks

  1. […] 3 words for the year and he has a great post describing his process and some outcomes here. And Carly Jacobs sets a few high-level goals which are more like themes for decision making. These approaches can serve as your compass for […]

  2. […] love a New Year’s resolution – or intention as we seem to be calling them this […]

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