Here’s Why Now Is The Best Time To Set An Annual Goal

Looking for the printable? Look for Step 2 beneath “How To Set Your February Resolutions.”

New Year’s resolutions are one of the more popular forms of personal goal-setting, even if most of them don’t last past January. So when New Year’s resolutions came up in one of our recent OGT Team meetings and our colleague Chris mentioned that he preferred to set his goals in February, we all wanted to hear more.

As he explained his reasoning, we all agreed that setting “February resolutions” was a brilliant idea, and today I’m passing the idea onto you. This simple switch will help you set more meaningful goals that you’ll be more likely to stick to (and don’t miss the free printable goal sheet you can download later in this post!)

Related:  This Gift From Me Will Help You Start The New Year Right

3 Reasons To Make February Resolutions Instead

1. It Gives You Time To Think

The biggest advantage of waiting until February to set goals for the year ahead is that it gives you more time to think! It takes time to set thoughtful goals, so there’s no reason to rush it.

It also gives you time to get yourself back on track after the holidays. The holidays interrupt our daily routines, so being able to catch up on work, chores, and other duties before setting new goals can make a huge difference!

2. You’ll Be More Realistic

While it may not be the case for everyone, I suspect that many people who resolve to lose weight in January are compensating for overindulging during the holidays. And it’s difficult to set a realistic and meaningful goal when you’re doing so out of guilt or shame!

Waiting to set your goals until February gives you time to readjust to your normal routine. You’ll find it much easier to set a realistic and meaningful goal when you aren’t fresh off the frenzy of the holidays!

3. You’re Less Likely To Burn Out

When you set goals thoughtfully and realistically, you give yourself the best possible chance of success! You’ll be less likely to burn out or give up than someone who thought up their resolution on New Year’s Eve.

How To Set Your February Resolutions

Step 1 – Think About It

Take the month of January to reflect on the previous year and consider what you want to achieve in the new one. You don’t have to think about it constantly, but try to keep it in the back of your mind.

Step 2 – Write It Down

Whenever you think of something that might make a good goal, jot it down so you don’t forget it. Keep track of these thoughts throughout the month, and make note of any common themes you can identify.

When you feel ready to commit to a goal or resolution for the year, make sure to write it down! I put together a printable goal sheet for you to use, which you can download using the button below.

Step 3 – Break It Up

A big, year-long goal can seem pretty intimidating when you consider it all at once. You can make it feel more manageable by breaking the year up into smaller pieces, setting quarterly goals that will help you reach your goal for the year.

Here’s a simple way to break up the year into quarters, based on a February start date:

• Quarter 1 – February through April
• Quarter 2 – May through July
• Quarter 3 – August through October
• Quarter 4 – November through January

Putting It All Together

This month, I’ll be using the printable goal sheet above to plan out my goals for the year. I’ve already decided on a “theme” that will serve as my overarching goal for 2022: “abundance.”

I broke my annual goal down into four smaller goals, so that each quarter I can focus on creating abundance in one specific aspect of my life. For one quarter I’ll focus on spiritual abundance, then intellectual, physical, and social.

So during the next few weeks, I’ll be working on filling each quarter of my goal sheet with realistic goals that will help me achieve abundance in that area of my life. You can set your February Resolutions however you choose, but I thought I’d share my plan in case it helps you form one of your own! :-)

What is your process for setting goals or resolutions?