Every year I do some “strategic planning” around New Year’s to re-examine and reconnect with the vision I have for my life and the values I hold that govern my choices. From this I then develop a new set of goals that I want to achieve in the coming year. Invariably, some of these goals get realized and some do not.  This year I wanted to develop a better way for myself to keep on track with my goals so I could achieve the ones that are really important to me instead of the ones that always seem to get my attention.
 
I have always acknowledged the importance of delayed gratification in goal setting but, to be honest, patience was never my forte. I needed to find a way to link immediate rewards with small choices to keep myself motivated. I considered little treats or a sticker chart of some kind (these seem to be effective for my 7 year-old daughter) but they didn't really motivate me. So instead I thought of something I would really want, something that I couldn’t just buy or do on a whim, something really special.
 
Now, with a clear image of something tangible that I really wanted; I started to think “how could I get that?” The answer in this case was simple - money. At first the idea of saving up for something seemed pointless. With credit I have the ability to buy now anything I can afford later. This, I believe, is one of the biggest reasons that delayed gratification has become such a lost skill. The problem, of course, is that by indulging in what feels good now we often preclude the possibility of having what we truly want.
 
So I decided to try it and I have been amazed by how effective it has been! As usual I listed my goals and under each goal the actions I would need to take in order to achieve them. This time, however, I also listed a monetary value I would “pay myself” for taking those actions. The beauty of the system is that I can decide exactly how much of a reward each action is worth by adjusting the amount. Furthermore, by keeping a log of how much I have “earned” I can precisely track both how much I have done and how close I am to achieving my goal and receiving my reward.
 
Consider what goals you have that seem to show up again and again on your New Year’s resolutions. First ask yourself if you really want this by examining how it fits in with your vision for your life and the values you hold. Maybe you don’t really want it, or maybe it isn't really a priority. If so, consider making a more realistic goal or letting it go all together. If however you realise this is something you really want, then consider giving this approach a try.
 
Happy New Year!