One thing I do when thinking about intentions for the next year is revisit books that help me choose good goals.
As an avid reader, I turn to books for inspiration, to expand my thinking, and to learn new skills. However, every year before creating goals for the next year, I pick up one of the following books to remind myself of best practices for successful goal creation.
Setting Intentions You Will Be Able To Achieve
Your Best Year Yet Jenny Ditzer
This is basically a workbook that helps the reader evaluate their life through a series of 10 questions. These questions are accompanied by exercises that help with creating achievable goals, action steps to execute the goals, and a system of evaluation to stay on track throughout the year. What sets this book apart in the self-help category is the various exercises and overall approach. With this workbook, you will be able to problem solve within your own life and set goals that will add value. It’s a must-read!
Atomic Habits by James Clear
I have yet to find a more thorough guide for the formation of habits. Clear lays out the research behind the system and examples of how his habit building system can work for you. He covers habit stacking and gives the reader several options for learning to create habits that will stick. With science-backed research and behavior-based conclusions, this is the text you need to create habits for a lifetime.
12 Week Year: Get More Done In 12 Weeks Thank Others by Brain Morgan and Michael Lenington
So, you have determined your goals for the new year, now what? This is where the 12 Week Year comes in to save the day. The reader is challenged with treating a quarter as if that is all the time you have in the year to achieve a goal. Which is a more achievable approach than to going hard for one month, and waiting until the last two months of the year to circle back and complete your goals. I will warn you, the book has a fair amount of fluff and is a sales pitch, but I still find value in the overall system.
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Not only is creating achievable goals important to success, but also the right mindset. I find that fear is a huge roadblock for most people, and Jeffers lays out techniques to push through the fear and succeed. Even if fear is not your biggest obstacle, the information about decision making and gaming your brain is applicable to anyone.
I’m a lover of goal-setting planners and I believe in the power of setting intentions and goals to shape the year. However, without the resources to make those goals happen, you may stumble along much more than necessary.
