Ashley Jones - Innovation Director at The Idea Suite - takes a closer look at the goal-setting trends that might just define 2020.
Scrolling through social media in the days leading up to December 31st 2019 would likely lead one to think that the past year wasn’t kind to many of us. It often feels as though the news has dampened our spirits a few too many times, and that 2020 needs to be a ‘refreshed page’ that we just might be able to take a little more control of. However, with the passion of Generation Z – just think Greta Thunberg – having brought us some hope in 2019, it’s not impossible to see that kind of energy catching on, giving us the chance to see 2020 in a far more optimistic light.
This more optimistic viewpoint doesn’t mean that the world is suddenly buzzing with January jubilance – if anything, it means quite the opposite; I’ve been hearing about the overwhelm of January and the winter ahead more than usual, for instance. However, optimism doesn’t always have to directly equate to cheery energy. Sometimes, it can be the simple, straightforward observance of a clear reality, paired with the acknowledgement and acceptance of a commitment to finding your own joy within it. Post an especially heavy week of news leading off the first few days back to work for many of us after the holidays, I’m curious to see how this potential state of optimism unfolds.
At this time of year, we tend to absorb a lot of chatter around resolutions and goals – the very time we need this dedication to a thriving optimistic spirit! And this year, I’ve been hearing about a few common trends when it comes to the goals we choose to set, and how we go about setting them.
Sizing up your goals – Ladder and scale things up!
Setting small achievable goals where you can see results quickly or progressively has typically been the go-to approach to resolutions, but there is value in big, forward-focused thinking, too! As failure becomes increasingly understood as a key component of realistic goals (wherein understanding failure necessitates trying, learning, and applying), big future goals don’t feel quite so overwhelming. So, in 2020, why not think about laddering your small goals into your larger end aspiration? Now that failure or learning through trial and error isn’t as taboo – and instead encouraged – try laddering your goals into 2030 and see where you end up. And then, do it in reverse. Think of a truly large 2030 goal, and peel back the layers of smaller goals that would be needed in order to get there. The context is a little different, but think about how much we achieve in the six years from Grade 7 to Grade 12, or, bigger still, the immense progression between Grades 1 and 6. Six years of growth and change can lead to making a huge difference – so just imagine what you could achieve in a decade if you were to ladder yourself there.
Understanding the motivation behind the goal
It is, in the greater scheme of things, relatively easy to have a goal; to get promoted, say, to spend more time on health, or to socialize with more intention. What isn’t as easy is to identify the why behind your goals. This can be a lot of work, especially in isolation, so there is a substantial amount of value to be found in talking about your goals with others, allowing you to express them out loud and to better understand both where it is that you’re coming from and exactly what it is that you’re trying to achieve. Why is the why important, though? It isn’t always all about the completion of the goal itself, after all. Instead, though it’s a nice perk to check the achievement off your list, the greater impact often comes from the growth and change that comes from the journey, and the experiences you have along the way. Thinking about goals as a series of experiences, then, can make them more engaging and attractive, and help you to focus less on one set outcome. If I’m correct in anticipating an increased sense of optimism about 2020, we may well also see an increasing level of interest in those around us engaging with motivated experiences over overt results.
The 2020 Goal – More self-care
We heard a lot about mindfulness in 2019 – whether in meditation studios, the classroom, access to the Headspace platform on airlines, or with the growing number of companies talking about their investment in the mental health of their employees. And that broader awareness seems to have made an impact: there has been a notable increase this new year in the number of conversations about how – and why – we should be setting self-care goals in 2020. Self-care isn’t just about indulgences, after all: it’s ultimately about attending to the needs that you have, the ones that often get passed over, whether they’re emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual. Committing to that doctor appointment you’ve been putting off, for instance, or acknowledging emotional overwhelm – or simply engaging in a new hobby for creative growth.
These acts of self support are now being referred to as some of the best things we can do for our overall stress reduction and, ultimately, our holistic health. It’s these things, the ones that we have over the years told ourselves are negotiable because they first and foremost directly impact us, that are seeing a resurgence. Dr. Guy Winch calls it ‘emotional first aid’, suggesting that: “We sustain psychological injuries even more often than we do physical ones, injuries like failure or rejection or loneliness. And yet, even though there are scientifically proven techniques we could use to treat these kinds of psychological injuries, we don't. It doesn't even occur to us that we should.”
In 2020, with a few more shoots of collective optimism poking through regarding the possibilities that arise if and when we take the time to see the big picture and the joy of the journey, rather than simply focusing on a single moment of happiness, I predict self-care goals will have a lot more sticking power than in the past.