By Andrea M. Prunariu
Every year, usually around the holidays, I sit down and spend some time reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the next. I’ve been doing this since I was very young, and normally it is a very easy and natural process for me. But, I think we can all agree that 2020 was not a “normal” year. It is especially hard to go into the new year with the optimism, plans, and expectations I usually do, but that’s precisely why I must do exactly that.
In 2020 we all had to learn the difficult lesson to deal with the unexpected, and if your year was anything like mine, uncertainty was everywhere, all the time. Living through a worldwide pandemic was literally just one of the many events turning my plans upside down. If I had to use a commonplace metaphor to describe it, this year was like a very intense roller coaster. Some times were extremely fun and rewarding, and other times I was just going down way too steep way too fast. Within the first three months I lost a relationship, my job, and recovered from not one, but two potentially fatal diseases. When I thought it couldn’t get worse, all my career plans got delayed due to lockdowns and lost a family member too. And I know a lot of us shared similar experiences.
But as a silver lining, in a year that was so different from the rest, we also all got a chance to cultivate patience and enjoy some downtime. We had the opportunity to think about who we are, what we want, what works for us or what doesn’t. Some couples broke up, some recommitted, and some found love closer than they would have ever thought. There was a global shift towards more work-life balance, wanting to spend quality time with loved ones, and appreciating those closest to us more than ever. Life, connections, as well as physical and mental health suddenly became more valuable, and social changes became inevitable.
Just as we anticipated at the end of 2019, undeniably a new era started with the new decade. Admittedly, not the way we wished for; but all these hardships we may have experienced put us in a great position to learn to be present, and be grateful for what we have in this moment. We can’t change these circumstances but we can re-evaluate our priorities and set new goals for the year(s) ahead of us.
What is Goal Planning
Goal planning is a process I’ve been doing for many years, intuitively. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but as an introspective person I like to check in with myself every so often. Also, being a lawyer, to-do lists are my way to prioritize and stay on track. However, I’ve recently learned that only a very small percentage of people take the time to reflect on their goals, so I wanted to write about how and why I set my goals, and how it helped me in case it may be helpful to others. Please note, that this process is not like New Year’s Resolutions, although your list could include those as well.
My annual goal planning usually combines broader personal value objectives (for example “be more intentional & mindful” or “do more acts of kindness”) with more specific goals and dreams (“visit South-America” or “pass the bar exam”). You can also choose to write separate lists for your core values, missions (long-time goals), and annual short-term goals. Another option is to divide and evaluate specific areas of your life and score them as well (career, family & friends, health, finances etc.). At least quarterly check-ins are also recommended.
Defining my values and goals with intention makes me feel connected to my current state of life and brings awareness to the areas that need improvement. Writing my goals down reinforces them, but the objectives are not set in stone, I give myself permission to deviate, if necessary. For example, if my goal was to travel to Europe this year, but I ended up traveling somewhere else instead, the result was still interacting with different cultures and building new memories.
How & When To Start
You can start whenever and wherever, but the end or beginning of a year is an obvious choice. To begin, I usually have to be in the right mood. If I am distracted, overwhelmed with stress or having too much fun, it might not be the best time to do it. I usually choose a gloomy day with not much to do (Canadian winters have plenty of those), light some candles, put on some music and sit down to reflect. You could also read a motivational book beforehand, take a walk, or watch an inspirational movie; whatever works for you. Then, grab a piece of paper or a brand new planner, and start writing your list. Think of it as a bucket list for the new year. Make it brief (attainable) and prioritize.
Since this is not my first time, I usually start with my previous list and I go through each one of the goals I set for the year. If you have never done this before, I recommend that you first write a summary of your accomplishments for the year that is ending. Reviewing my previous year’s list, I will score items I achieved so far (1), mark what I didn’t (0), and note if a goal is still in progress, or I ended up doing something else instead of what I planned (0.5). Then, I calculate my success rate (18/25). Fortunately, most of my years (even in 2020!) I achieve at least 70-80% of my goals. Simply by seeing these results, I usually feel quite productive and more motivated to set new goals, knowing that the next year will likely be just as successful, if not more.
How Goal Setting Helped Me
Revisiting my previous lists makes me feel grateful & accomplished. Writing my new goals fills me with anticipation and hope. You really can’t go wrong with that. Any items I did not achieve, I either put on my new list or eliminate them if they are not relevant anymore. But either way, I always ask myself what happened, what I could have done differently, where do I need to put in more time or effort. The point is not perfection, but to raise awareness, appreciation and to be more intentional in creating the life you want.
Goal setting might be a tough process initially, but it can be extremely rewarding once you do it on a regular basis. I recently found some lists from my teenage years, and it was astonishing to see how much I’ve achieved and that I actually became the person I wanted to become when I was young. It helped me see that I am in alignment with my passions, and even though my life changed so much, the same core values are still important to me. The process helps me live an authentic life by identifying what I want, and more importantly, who I want to be at all times.
How Purposeful Planning Can Help You
In addition to my personal experiences outlined above, today you can find plenty of research, books and articles on the benefits of goal planning.
For example, one article on PositivePsychology.com specifically outlines different types of approaches to this process and states that setting goals and objectives is actually linked not only with higher motivation, but also with self-esteem, self-confidence and autonomy.
According to the writer, research also shows a strong connection between success and goal-setting. Another great article links goal setting to improved academic performance, and increased prospect of fulfilling ambitions.
Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey in his memoir, Greenlights also released a list of his “10 Goals in Life”, a list he wrote when he was about 23 and found recently while writing his book. Believe it or not, even though admittedly he hasn’t seen that list since writing it in 1992, all of his goals got fulfilled. Most notably, just 2 days after finishing his first acting gig, he wrote “#8 Win an Oscar for Best Actor”. We all know the rest.
Now let’s walk into the new year with new hopes, dreams, and plans. Let’s stay focused, but allow adjustments along the way if necessary. After all, as we learned so masterfully in 2020, life can change at any given moment, but that’s no reason to stop.
Helpful Resources & Tools:
What is Goal Setting and How to Do it Well , Article by Elaine Houston, B.Sc on PositivePsychology.com
The Science & Psychology Of Goal-Setting 101, Article by Madhuleena Roy Chowdhury, BA on PositivePsychology.com
About Andrea Prunariu,
B.Sc. | Dr. Jur. | LL.M.
Andrea is a Canadian lawyer, primarily practicing in the areas of Civil Litigation and Immigration. Her personal and professional experiences led her to become more interested and involved in matters related to mental health and personal development. Andrea is passionate about helping others through their journey and empowering them, whether they are clients, mentees, family or friends. In her free time, Andrea enjoys traveling, long walks, reading, riding her motorcycle and building quality relationships.
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