Like most of you, my New Years resolutions in past years have been something like “Exercise every day” or “Eat fruits and vegetables with every meal.” And, I bet that you had the same experience I did… a few weeks of “success” and then they seemed to fade away. The problem with these kinds of goals are how they are structured. They end up being “either-or” goals … you are either able to do them or, more often, you miss a day (or two… or three) and feel like a failure.

I recently read a blog post by Ryder Carroll, the originator of the Bullet Journal which profoundly changed the way I think about goal setting and New Year’s Resolutions

It’s a simple, but very powerful concept. Set your goal as a destination… as a “lighthouse” in the distance, and then head in that direction every day. As Ryder Carroll explains, “When goals are lighthouses, success is defined by simply showing up, by daily progress no matter how big or small…”

So instead of the usual New Year’s Resolutions, pick a few “lighthouse goals”. Write them down and keep track of how you are doing (every journey needs a map). This can be as simple as one piece of paper for each goal, but I am such a fan of the Bullet Journal, I hope you consider using it.

When you get up every morning think about how to move towards your goal(s). If you veer off course, that’s part of the journey…. look up, find your lighthouse, and correct your course.  Every once in a while (maybe monthly?), look at the progress you’ve made and celebrate it! If, on the other hand, the goals you originally chose don’t make sense for you any more, pick some new goals, draw a new map and start over.

Potential New Year “Lighthouse” goals

• Learn more about compassion and practice it
• Be a better friend
• Write genuine thank you notes to people who have helped me
• Become more fit
• Eat real food for as many meals a week as I can
• Find out more about who I really am through meditation
• Keep a “stop doing” list
• Be better at my work through deliberate practice (practicing and learning the things I don’t like and aren’t good at until I’m better)
• Stay organized so I don’t waste time (and end up focusing on trivial things instead of what’s really important)
• Read things that bring me joy
• Learn about and use a Bullet Journal
• Find a community to support me
• Learn the names of as many people at work as I can
• Take the stairs as often as I can
• Make my living spaces enjoyable spaces
• Keep a journal to remember milestones and work out struggles
• Get good sleep as often as possible
• Learn Spanish (or any new language)
• Be on time
• Remember people’s birthdays and send a card
• Start the day with intention
• Appropriately limit email and social media time