Happy New Year – Goal Setting

This meme has been floating around Facebook for the past week and I had to laugh.. It’s true and I’m guilty of it as well. Whether it’s an actual New Year’s resolution or just wanting to make a fresh start, December 31st being the actual end of the year, seems like a good point to close the door on the past year and start fresh January 1st.

I’ve spent the last several New Year’s Eves planning goals for the coming year and measuring where the previous year ended up. I suppose I always will. I never used to, and now realize how I’ve let quite a few years get away from me. I no longer want to look back on years that seem empty now, like wasted time, because I had no direction.

So what’s the plan, Stan? After reading several blog posts from others on this topic, I’ve decided to take a slightly different approach in  2016 and set monthly goals, not just goals for the year that all have an expiration date of 12/31.  I like the idea of reviewing my progress monthly and not waiting until the end of the year. My procrastinating self would otherwise realize mid-November that I need to get it in gear.

I also have planned daily and weekly goals that relate to my microstock photography portfolio and this blog, in addition to monthly goals that I haven’t finishing defining. I’ve set daily photography goals and weekly blogging goals, committing to post content every Monday and Friday along with plans to celebrate for reaching quarterly and mid-year milestones. With the publishing of this blog post, I’ll be 1 – 0.  Woohoo!

How about you?  Do you have a particular goal setting method that works for you?  What do you set out to accomplish in 2016?