Now the hype is over, let’s get down to business!

Congratulations!!! You’ve nearly made it through ‘Veganuary’ (and even tried a vegan sausage roll), ‘Dry January’ and been to at least 2 of the 8 gym classes you promised you would. Though you may have slipped up by indulging in a cheeky bacon sandwich after an ‘accidental’ bottle of Merlot down the Fox & Hounds last Friday night, worry not! According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, even though most of us fail, New year’s resolutions are great ways of helping us get closer to achieving our goals! So, as January draws to a close, you have hopefully reached some sort of equilibrium and successfully recalibrated yourself ready for 2020. 

Here at EM Coaching, we’re fully aware that time is a precious commodity, unfortunately we can’t give you more of it, but what we can do is give you some tips to help you streamline your efforts to make the rest of the year a success: 

1. Reflect on last year. You’re wasting precious time if you’re not learning from the past. Your professional and personal life combined are probably pretty hectic & ‘task focussed’. We inherently keep driving forward and often neglect crucial reflection time. When we do allow ourselves to, we might get a different perspective and it allows us greater scope to guide our future actions. As one of the most influential thinkers on management, Peter Drucker  wrote; “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection comes more effective action”. So, take the time to reflect on 2019; what stood out? What went well? Do the good things more and don’t repeat mistakes.

2. Conduct a SWOT. It sounds a bit ‘cliché’, but this age-old strategic analysis tool often used by organisations in the decision-making process can be simply applied to your life too. It allows you to understand the basics: Your Strengths (S), Weaknesses (W), Opportunities (O) & Threats (T) = SWOT! Draw a grid with one element in each, be honest with yourself and simply jot them down. This simple but effective analysis tool will help you to understand what surrounds you, what you might be faced with, the things that you have control over and the things you don’t. It’s surprising what you learn about yourself and what you might actually be able to change when you put it on paper! 

3. Set goals. Goals can help us define, shape and guide our pathways. According to personality and motivational psychologist Dr Brian Little; goals are “all about the future - they point us forward”. They guide us along routes that might be short and jerky, or long and smooth, either way, they help us to map difficult terrain and focus our attention to the areas that need it most. 

Quick and simple right? So, here’s your homework from EM Coaching, take 10 mins to complete the 3 steps above. It doesn’t have to be ‘War & Peace’, it can be on a Post-It, on the back of a fag packet (that you should have given up as your New Year’s resolution) or just in your head. Understand what it is you want to achieve in 2020, and whatever it is, GO GET IT!

Love the EM Coaching Team x