Create Your Goals for the New Year in Color

I’m generally not one for New Year’s resolutions because, as we all know, they often fall by the wayside very quickly. However, with so many changes due to the pandemic, many will need some emotional inspiration to get back on track. It’s the perfect time to make an intentional fresh start with some goals for the New Year. 

You would not go on a vacation without your GPS, proper clothing and a final destination in mind. The same holds true for mapping out your future objectives. Start by asking yourself the question, “where do I want to go?” This question could apply to all areas of your life. From strengthening your professional skills to changing careers to taking a dream vacation, you have to have a plan. Often times professional and social overlap and that dream vacation may come in the form of a professional journey. I have had the opportunity to travel to beautiful places because of a job but stayed longer to enjoy the sites.

Creating a visual tool that allows you to organize your thoughts on paper can be invaluable. You will gain insight into what you prioritize and glance back at all of your ideas in one colorful place. I have used this technique several times in the past and found it extremely helpful. Not to mention – FUN! I will share how I do it but feel free to get creative and experiment on your own. This is not an official mind map. However, I found inspiration from the concept.

Choose a Word

Pick a word write down in the center of your page. It can be an issue you have struggled to resolve, a goal you want to see come to fruition or a random word that comes to mind. Whatever word comes to your mind first is surfacing for a reason, so go with it.

Invest in Color

I like to use a variety of colorful sharpies and make lines coming off the center word to add more words giving me ideas for directions I am going to take or research I need to do in order to meet my goals.

For example, many years ago, before I even had a small handful of clients, I created a map with the word “SUCCESS” in the center. My goal was to eventually obtain work around the country and somehow incorporate media into the mix. I had no idea how I was going to do it! At that moment in time, I did not know how It was going to unfold. But simply putting it down on paper gave me a concrete goal. While to many of my friends, it looked as if my professional world simply fell into place, I took one step after another to accomplish my goal. I still have many more but looking back at some of my previous maps is simply fascinating. There is no such thing as coincidence. 

Don’t Over Think It

You may not know how you will reach your goals yet, but the first step is writing it down on paper. Your brain will start working it out and you will create categories which will give you directions to work on. There will be some things you don’t know yet and should write down to remind you to research. There is something powerful about speaking your intentions out loud. Your life’s GPS goes in the direction you set it.

Visualize an Oak Tree

This is a fun tool for visualizing your goals. The tree’s trunk is your word, and all of the branches are your thoughts radiating out into actionable steps. Try and use as few words as possible as prompts and reminders.

Get Creative

Use a sheet of butcher paper or a piece of oversized computer paper and just let yourself be free to generate thoughts. But, also be clear as to where you want to go (the goals you want to reach). Think big and long term. Even if what you desire seems out of range, write it down. You will be surprised how the things you put to paper come to pass. Date it and refer to it occasionally but don’t overthink it. Let yourself have some fun and see where you are next year at this time.

You may also like Demystifying the Holiday Dress Code. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest,  Instagram and Twitter.