5 Changes I Made to Write Intentional Goals for 2019

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Last updated on September 15th, 2023 at 02:13 pm

I’m one of those people who struggles with goals and resolutions. I have zero confidence in myself when it comes to reaching goals. But after this last year of studying productivity, I realized I needed to make changes by writing intentional goals for 2019.

If I want change, I have to do something different.

I am not a competitive person. I do not play games. Not because I hate losing, but because if I do lose I hear a lie whispered in my ear:

“You can’t do it. You’re not good enough.”

I’ve set many goals in my life I’ve never achieved. And some of them I felt like I’d never be good enough to reach, so I never bothered to set them in the first place. Now, at 30 years old, I’ve realized that not reaching those goals wasn’t really a failure. 

Some prime examples in my life:

During my senior year, I didn’t believe I could go away to college. Sure, I dreamed of it in fantasy, but I never believed it because I’m such a homebody. I decided to go to community college because I was scared and it was safe.

I had no idea this “failure” would lead me to God, a community, and my husband.

In college, I didn’t think I could make it through music theory and sight reading. So I changed my major.

That failure eventually led to a full-time job that still helps pay the bills.

So with that in mind, I decided that this year I would actually dive deep and write down goals that matter. Well, honestly, this was the year I would actually write goals.

That full-time job I got … really ruined me when it came to goal setting. I don’t know what it is about the sterile, corporate environment that makes annual reviews and SMART goal-setting so excruciating.

Then there’s my own personal experience of writing goals that fail to happen year after year.

So this year, I’m making big changes in how I go about writing goals. This year, I’m writing goals with real intention.

01. I looked at my personality

After reading Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin, and currently The Four Tendencies, it was clear why I’ve never been able to reach my personal goals. As an Obliger, I struggle to meet inner expectations.

But now that I know this about myself, I’ve discovered ways to meet my inner-expectations. Since I’m an Obliger with Upholder tendencies, I get rigid about things like marking off a to-do list written on a piece of paper or getting rid of notifications on my phone.

So, I bought this planner that I’m writing everything down in. (You can find out why I chose that planner here.) I shut off the notifications for some apps on my phone. Other apps, like the BBG Sweat app actually keep me accountable.

I bought myself the Powersheets from Cultivate What Matters. I wrote in it with a PEN. And I will continue writing in INK. In my brain, pencil signals that it doesn’t have to get done. INK signals that there’s no getting out of it.

That may not work for you, but this strategy seems to work for me.

02. I took a long, hard look at what I really wanted.

For a lot of my 20’s, it felt like I was waiting to get “there.” But at 30 I realize, I’m here! I need to do what I want to do right now!

I read a few books that helped me decide what I wanted. The most influential books were The Happiness Project and Essentialism.

With the Powersheets, I walked through an exercise of figuring out where I’m at and where I’m headed.

This all helped me figure out what I want and how I want to live because the moment is now! Not later!

I love what Lara Casey says, “You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them!”

03. I have permission to change my mind

Yes, I’m writing my goals in ink, but I have permission to change my mind.

Things that make sense right now may not make sense six months from now. Changing a goal or getting rid of one will be totally ok.

04. I’ll plan for the next 90 days.

I really love the idea of a 90-day year. It makes much more sense to plan out three months since things do change, especially my mind. Thinking about my year this way makes me feel so much freer and way more attainable.

05. I’ll accept help.

The most humbling thing ever is to ask for and accept help. But being on the side of coach and helper has taught me that other people are way better at some things than I am. Accepting their help doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It means I’m taking a shortcut!

I won’t be ashamed to ask someone to watch my kid. Or that I decided to send her to preschool.

And I’ll probably ask others to help me reach some goals for some outer expectations …so I’m actually able to reach my goals.

These are the ways I’m changing how I write goals —actually, this is how I officially write goals this year. I’m hoping it works! I’ll update you on my progress throughout the year. (See? External accountability 😉 )

Do you use a goal planner for the year? Check out this review on the Powersheets from Cultivate What Matters to decide if they’re the right fit for you.