Summary

The article provides three unique techniques for selecting 2023 goals that are exciting and inspiring to ensure they are achieved with passion and enthusiasm.

Abstract

The article "How to Pick Goals… in an Interesting Way" offers readers a fresh perspective on setting goals for the year, emphasizing the importance of choosing goals that resonate on a personal level and spark enthusiasm. It introduces three innovative techniques to help select goals: first, to approach goal-setting like a movie critic, choosing goals that diversify one's experiences and challenge personal weaknesses; second, to think big by adopting thematic goals that allow for flexibility in how they are achieved; and third, to use the Epic Life Planner method, which involves picking four goals that cover adventures, achievements, or skills. The article suggests that by setting diverse and thematic goals, individuals have a better chance of maintaining them throughout the year.

Opinions

The author believes that conventional goals like weight loss can be reframed to be more exciting and less likely to be abandoned.
Movie critics select movies based on their potential to expand tastes and ideas, and similarly, individuals should pick goals that broaden their horizons and challenge them.
The concept of a "keystone habit" is introduced as a foundational habit that can lead to the development of multiple good habits.
The author advocates for setting thematic goals that encompass various activities, which can lead to a healthier lifestyle rather than focusing on a singular outcome like weight loss.
The Epic Life Planner method is recommended for its ability to create a balanced mix of goals across different aspects of life, making the pursuit of goals more engaging and less monotonous.
The article posits that goals should be personally meaningful to increase the likelihood of them being sustained throughout the year.

How to Pick Goals… in an Interesting Way

3 Unique Techniques to Pick Your 2023 Goals

“We propose that these landmarks demarcate the passage of time, creating many new mental accounting periods each year, which relegate past imperfections to a previous period, induce people to take a big-picture view of their lives, and thus motivate aspirational behaviors.”

— The Fresh Start Effect

Or, in other words:

“New Year, new you.”

— Someone with regrets

So, how do we go about picking a goal that will leave us something inspired to pursue over 365 days? The trick is to approach the picking of goals with excitement, such that the goals then inherit that enthusiasm.

For example, some of the most popular goals are to lose weight or hit the gym more often. That’s great; I’m not criticizing those goals, and yet…

Boring goals will result in incomplete goals.

Let’s reframe and approach these goals in a unique way that’ll leave us with a better end result and with way more passion and excitement. Although there’s no substitute for grit, consistency, and habits, a bit more positive energy will go a long way. Maybe even 365 days long.

Technique 1 — Pick goals like a movie critic picks movies.

There are too many movies released for any movie critic to watch. So, how do they select which movie is worthy of review?

“Watching a wide enough range of movies to expand one’s own tastes, expectations, and ideas rather than merely perpetuate them.”

— Richard Brody, The New Yorker

Pick a goal that diversifies you, such as a new hobby, a known weakness, or something that you said you’d always get to but haven’t yet.

“You go where the money is.”

— Charles Bramesco, freelance for The Guardian, Vulture, the New York Times

Pick a goal that sets up a keystone habit, such as establishing a great morning routine or journaling.

Technique 2. — Think BIG

“Dr. McGonigal recommended reflecting on what changes would make you happiest, then picking a “theme” for your year. That way, even if a particular habit doesn’t stick, your overarching intention will.”

For example, this past year one of my goals was to reach peak performance. But intentionally being vague about how, I did yoga, stretching, resistance and bodyweight training, got into sprinting more, etc. Had I said I’d do yoga only and missed a couple of sessions, I would’ve been disappointed and given up like a chump.

Pick a thematic goal that allows for numerous ways to satisfy it.

For example, if you want to lose weight, consider the thematic goal to be a healthier lifestyle. If success is defined as only losing weight, that might set you up for failure if you don’t lose enough pounds. Whereas, if success is living healthier, then it could include eating better, more exercise, meditation… and losing pounds.

Technique 3 — Epic Life Planner

This is my own, adapted method for picking goals for the year. It calls for you to pick 4 goals, where each goal should be an adventure, achievement, or skill.

I’ve been using this method for over 5 years and no one is calling me epic yet, so it’s got some room for improvement. The best aspect of this method is it diversifies your goals — they’re not all travel plans nor all about fitness. It’s a combo of spicy goals.

Final Takeaway

Have a better chance of keeping your goals throughout the year by picking goals that are diverse and thematic. The more it resonates with who you are as a person, the more likely it’ll become sticky.