Should You Still Set Goals for 2021 Even Though We're in the Midst of a Pandemic?

Ordinarily, this week is the week where people worldwide are making New Year resolutions or setting goals and making plans for the year ahead. But the current climate may have many of you doubting whether to set your goals after what has happened over the course of the past year.

This past year has shown us that we can make all the plans in the world, but our situation can change at the drop of a hat. With so many people having lost their jobs, lost loved ones, are living under many restrictions because of the pandemic, many people are wondering whether there is any point in setting goals.

You may be thinking that with so much uncertainty ahead, what is the point. But whilst there is so much out of your control that can prevent you from achieving your goals, I still believe that we should still set goals, even though we are going through a pandemic.

Whilst there may be many things out of your control, there are still things that you have influence over, and there are still things that are within your control. We are goal oriented by nature and goals are essential to giving our lives meaning and purpose. Without them, we may wander through life aimlessly.

You may feel like you should put your career on hold. But even though we are amid a pandemic, life still goes on. People are still getting promoted. Jobs are still being advertised. Change is constantly occurring. Whilst some industries have seen a significant negative impact, other industries are seeing growth. A search on LinkedIn returned over 46,000 jobs advertised in the past week in London alone.

Be hopeful about the future

‘Hope is… the belief that the future will be better than the present, coupled with the belief that you have the power to make it so.’

-Dr Shane Lopez

?

Having goals helps to keep you motivated and gives you hope. Something very much needed in the climate we are in. The late Dr Shane Lopez, Psychologist is quoted as saying ‘Hope is… the belief that the future will be better than the present, coupled with the belief that you have the power to make it so.’

To be hopeful requires thinking positively about the future and putting the effort in to make things happen. Dr Lopez said that when we think that our futures will be better than our present situations, we start working harder today and are more likely to be engaged in our work.  

If you want to go for promotion, change career, or have other things that you want to achieve, still go ahead, and set your goals. 

Set intrinsically motivating goals and think about what you CAN control

People who set intrinsically motivating goals are more likely to achieve them, so set goals that are meaningful to you (as well as goals that are realistic). Think about your values and the things that are important to you, and align your goals with them.

You may find it easier to set short term goals as opposed to long term ones. Plus, it will give you more of a sense of accomplishment as you achieve them. Even if you do set long term goals, they do not have to be set in stone. Sometimes stuff gets in the way, and that is ok.

Think about what influence you have over your circumstances or whether something is outside of your control. For example, if your goal is to travel this year, depending on how the pandemic goes, you may not be able to go to the destinations that you would ordinarily like to.

Have a strategy to achieve your goals

It is one thing to set goals, but if you don’t have a strategy to achieve them, you could end up wandering around aimlessly to get there. A bit like driving from London to Scotland. If you didn’t know the route, you wouldn’t set off without first planning your journey. You would want to know how you are going to get there.

Identify what is needed to achieve your goals, and breakdown what needs to be done into small steps. Big goals may seem overwhelming, but by breaking things down into smaller steps you may find it easier to achieve. Get accountability to support you, encourage you, and keep you on track.

And do not just wait until you achieve your goals to reward yourself, reward yourself for your effort and achievements along the way.

Eliminate energy drainers

When our energy levels are up, we perform better, and we function better. Be mindful of those things that sap away your motivation and leave you feeling drained. Keep a check on how you are emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually, and keep yourself ‘topped up’ in all four areas.

There may well be energy drainers that you have no control over, so rather than put too much focus on them and let them deplete your energy, look at what you can do to influence change. If you are unable to influence change, change how you respond to the situation.

Anticipate setbacks

A set-back or an obstacle can throw you completely off track, and the past year has certainly shown many of us this. Using the drive from London to Scotland analogy, when you put your destination postcode in the sat nav, it brings up a list of different routes you can take. As you are driving, if there is a traffic delay, the sat nav will quickly identify the next best route and re-route itself. By identifying different ways in which to achieve your goals, if you do get a setback, you can take a different route.

Don’t just be mindful of potential external setbacks, be aware of the internal personal triggers that are likely to throw you off track. Put things in place to help you overcome them, or to minimise them from setting you back. People who visualise obstacles and how they will get around them, are more likely to achieve their goals.

And if stuff happens and your goal has to be abandoned, acknowledge, and accept what has occurred. You can always set yourself another goal for something else when the time is right for you.

Be intentional and get clarity about what you want to achieve. Have a vision of what this looks and feels like. Be strategic in your approach to make it happen, and focus.

What about you? Have you set goals for 2021 or have you put them on hold?

About Me

I am an Executive, Career and Leadership Coach, Speaker and Trainer, and 4 times LinkedIn Top Voice UK. Known as The Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, I coach women who are senior leaders to be visible, to confidently exude presence, to influence, and make an impact.

I also provide workshops, webinars and talks on personal development, career development and leadership development.

If you are an introverted woman and a senior leader and want to increase your confidence, influence and impact, take my free assessment and get a report identifying areas to develop. You can take the assessment here. 

?My book Quietly Visible: Leading with Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman addresses many of the challenges that introverted women face as leaders and shows how these challenges can be overcome. It was listed as one of the 10 best self-development books written by women to read during lockdown by BeYourOwn. You can get your copy here along with a FREE recording of my How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome workshop.