How to Track Your Objectives throughout the Year

At the beginning of each year, many people make up lists of resolutions, of things they want to do or experience in the next 12 months. I did that myself. 

This year I decided to change a bit the approach and not wait until December to evaluate the fulfilment of my objectives. I realized that it is important to understand that such an evaluation does not have to do with a certain date in a calendar but rather with how connected we are with the proposed objectives.

It is also important to check if we still have the same objectives and how realistic they were in the first place, and to see if priorities haven’t changed due to certain circumstances. 

And last but not least, to understand that it is OK if your perspective has shifted and that you no longer have the same wishes you had at the beginning of the year.

When I’m writing this article there are only three more months left until the end of the year so why not start preparing? Think about all the things you wanted to accomplish in 2021 and notice what it is that you could not accomplish yet. Ask yourself how many of those things you can still do until the end of the year, but more importantly, how many of those are still relevant to you?

I’m not suggesting that you start chasing the fulfilment of your objectives during the last months of the year but spend some time analysing and then write down the following:

• What worked as planned;
• What didn’t work as you would have wanted and why;
• What you can still do before the year is over and how you can set yourself a more realistic set of objectives for the next year.

Because yes, it’s true, according to some studies, the objectives that we set ourselves are most often unrealistic. This is how frustration is born: by not fulfilling unrealistic objectives. Don’t go into too much detail when identifying a cause for not fulfilling an objective, rather try to see the big picture. For example, you can use some of the following criteria:

1. I thought an objective was easier to achieve than it actually was.
2. I could not get over a fear I have or because I did not trust myself enough to do it.
3. I wish for an unrealistic lifestyle. For example, social media has put us in contact with people who share with the world the kind of life they live and the objects they possess and soon enough we wish we had the same life style. Nothing wrong with that. But is it realistic to expect to live in a luxury villa within a year when you currently barely afford to pay the rent?
4. I did not plan better for the things I want.
5. I surrounded myself with people who did not help with meeting my objectives.
6. The world/pandemic context was difficult and the restart of the economy was slow.
7. I’m tired and I need a break.
8. I set myself too many objectives and I failed to focus on one clear direction.
9. I did not seek/accept help.
10. I did not wish something strongly enough to make the necessary sacrifices. For example, you wish to lose weight but cannot give up sweets or fast food.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not offering you a list of excuses. Self-compassion is not self-pity.

Value what you’ve achieved so far, be honest and find the real reasons why some of the things didn’t happen the way you would have wanted so that the next time things turn out better.