Eight Tips for getting back into the Groove with Your Goals

Setting goals on December 31 is a wonderful tradition. There you are, full of bonhomie (or maybe just pretty full). All things seem possible. Goals for the year ahead just roll of your tongue.

Now its February, holidays are well and truly over, and the pressure is on to stop talking, get into action and produce some results. Trouble is those New Year goals may now not be looking quite so sparkly and easy.

Another challenge is that, for some of us, switching off and taking a mental break is really hard to do. But once weve finally slowed down and are enjoying the holiday pace, switching on again and getting back into the groove towards our goals is even harder.

Here are eight strategies to ease you back into the groove and get focused again - when part of may still be hankering for the beach and a good novel.

1. Clear the space ready for easier action. Complete some of those tasks you have had on your list but never make a priority. Handle those little things that annoy, like fixing your equipment or throwing out things that dont work. When the brain is fuzzy, the act of clearing or cleaning your physical space seems to flow through to the headspace.
    
2. Get back in the networking groove. Call a few friends, colleagues and clients to see how they are going and, at the same time, invite them to have a chat about plans for 2010. I find just talking about what Im going to do this year reminds me of my passions and purpose and fires me up for action.
    
3. Make sure you really want all your goals? Its amazing how many people have difficulty with this questions and then wonder why they dont achieve. A goal - big or small - needs to be something you really want to do or to have, not something you (or someone else) think you ought or should achieve.
    
4. Throw out any old stale goals that have become a burden rather than an inspiration. You may have had a goal to take an online course to further your career or add a product to you business. Even though you have now decided that goal is not practical, you havent really let it go and it is taking up headspace and energy. Goals are not set in stone. Be flexible. Make it OK to change your mind if something is not working out.
    
5. Set small goals to carry you forward to the big goals. Although it is wonderful to have a really BIG picture of how your career or business will look in five years time, it can be overwhelming. Break your big goals down into projects, of sub-goals with a specific sequence and time frame for completion.
    
6. Balance and more time for ourselves we all want it but often cant see the wood for the trees. What take up your time that you dont really need to be doing yourself? Cleaning, filing, errands, research, and so on. Learn to delegate and outsource. It may initially have a time and financial cost but see this as an investment in your business and your lifestyle. However busy you are, try and schedule in time for yourself, however brief, to enjoy and renew.
    
7. Still on balance. When you are first in business or start a challenging new job balance may have to go out of the window for a while. Make this a choice as part of your short-term strategy. Put a time frame on how long you are willing to give up what, to you, constitutes a balanced life. Get agreement and support from your partner, family, and friends.
    
8. Whilst it is beneficial to absorb the skills and knowledge of your peers and mentors, be true to who you are and how you naturally prefer operate. How others go about things may not necessarily be right for you. If you work better in the early hours, do it. If you are naturally a night owl, accept and use it. Be happy and confident in who you are - thats part of success.