New Year’s Goals
At the beginning of a new year, we often yield to the temptation to set new goals. We did this last year, and the year before, but we don’t seem to learn. How did that work out for you?
Actually, it can be helpful to set goals, especially if we have ADD ADHD. Here are some strategies to help make it helpful.
Strategies
Set reasonable goals. (When you finally meet a goal, you can always set a new one.)
Think small steps.
Encourage and reward yourself.
Expect setbacks and have a plan for them.
Do not beat yourself up, and stop that negative self talk.
Medications may help, or not.
doug
Meeting Your Goals, from Maria
Meeting your goals Without Abusing Yourself, from Kelli
Bonus Links:
Time and the river keep flowing, no matter what you do.
ADDadultstrategies 
Pingback: Expectations in ADD ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 623 | ADDadultstrategies
Hi Doug,
Happy New Year!
I like to make a list of things that are important to me; Marriage, Work, Exercise, my Boat, dealing with ADD, etc., and then under each heading I write some things that I can do to help with that. Sometimes these are things I do once and they are done, like finishing a specific project. Sometimes they are ongoing things, like remembering to use specific strategies for dealing with my ADD. Then I put that list in a place, like on a wall, where I will see it on a regular basis, so it reminds me of those things that are important and what I can do to support those things in my life. Throughout the year I may update my list if I think of something appropriate, come up with a new strategy, or finish a project that is on the list. Sometimes I put a date next to a crossed out project and that allows me to see progress, but it isn’t a to-do list. It is more like a reminder of what I consider important and how I plan on achieving that.
It used to be on a wall in my shop right in front of where I meditate, but that wall just got taken over by a chart of the San Juan Islands that a friend gave me for dreaming of future small boat voyages. We’ll see how the new location works…
All the best,
Scott
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scott – and a good new year to you as well. That is a great strategy. For me, I would either have to keep moving it. So my brain didn’t accommodate to it and not see it,, or I could make a habit of looking at it once a day, using an anchor, like right after lunch.
Thank you for contributing.
Doug
LikeLike
I like to set monthly goals instead of annual goals. Each month I see how I did and then set goals for the new month.
New Year’s resolutions have never worked for me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
homey – I think both might be helpful, but everyone is different. probably the key is the regular review instead of just setting the goals.
thanks for commenting
doug
LikeLike
Everyone is definitely different when it comes to setting goals. Setting lots of goals doesn’t work well for me – makes me NOT want to do them or they make me feel pressured. Smaller goals more often work better. But like I said in my post on New Year’s Day, I really don’t have to set official goals. It’s my makeup to always be learning and trying new things.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Homey –
smaller goals. Sounds really good. And not too many at once.
My makeup is similar, to always be learning and trying new things, but if I don’t set goals, or have some other strategies, I’m trying to learn and trying to try way too many things at once, and consequently don’t get anything done.
Right now I’m on a tangent of songwriting, which I really enjoy, but I’m really questioning the time investment.
as always, thank you for contributing.
Doug
LikeLike