The 20 Goals for 2020 Challenge

Today we’re going to look at how to set 20 goals for 2020. And to do so, I’m going to be sharing my own list of 20 goals for the new year.

Are you a New Year’s resolution kind of person?

I’m typically not.

In fact, there was a long stretch where I was resolutely against setting resolutions at the beginning of a new year.

This was mainly because in the past, all my New Years’ resolutions went nowhere. I gave up or forgot about them by the springtime. Then reflecting on them at the end of December just made me feel guilty and discouraged.

So I stopped setting them.But surprisingly, that didn’t make me feel any better at the end of the year.

I discovered that setting no type of goal or resolution for my future in the upcoming year left me feeling equally deflated as when I was setting vague or poorly defined resolutions.

Sure, I couldn’t fail to live up to my resolutions if I didn’t set any. But having nothing to live up to can leave life a bit lackluster.

So I still met the end of the year feeling unaccomplished and a little sad somehow.

Ultimately, it was because by avoiding plans for self-development out of fear of failure, I was giving up before I ever got started.

On myself. My future. My potential for greatness.

Then several years ago, I made a shift.

I stopped setting resolutions and began crafting goals.

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Goals vs Resolutions

A goal, a resolution, what’s the difference, right?

It’s actually fairly significant.

The Oxford dictionary defines the word resolution as “a firm decision to do or not to do something”.

Resolutions are vague and disorganized.A decision based in nothing more than feeling or willpower is nothing more than a wish. Wishes aren’t actionable. They are granted by outside parties, not achieved.

If you are waiting on a wish, you’re going to be waiting for quite a while. Maybe forever. Unless you happen across a magical, wish-granting star, well or fairy godmother (if you do, definitely let me know about it).

But a goal is different.Goals are narrow, specific, with clear steps on what you need to do to in order to be successful.

The word goal has a few different definitions in the Oxford dictionary. It’s described as “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result” or “the destination of a journey”.

There is action behind a goal.

It’s a big idea, broken up into a plan with many little steps that lead real change and accomplishment.

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The 20 for 2020 Challenge

We’re going to talk a little more about how to begin crafting a plan for your goals in an upcoming blog post.

But today, I want to extend a challenge to you in the new year.

I want you to sit down and write up your own list of 20 goals for 2020.

I know 20 goals may seem like a lot, but don’t panic. They don’t all have to be enormous, life-changing goals. They can be smaller or medium-sized tasks you have been putting off for a while (like finally organizing your closet or junk drawer).

And guess what?

You might not accomplish every single goal on your list in the new year.

That’s okay.

There are no “Goal Police” who are going to arrest you and throw you into “Goal Failure Prison”.

No angry mobs that will come after you with torches and pitchforks because you didn’t lose weight, travel more or clean out the garage.

You have nothing to lose by crafting this list, but maybe quite a few things to gain.

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My 20 Goals for 2020

Of course, I wouldn’t dream of asking you to write up 20 goals for 2020 without having my own list for the year.

Some of them are larger projects that will require greater planning and action steps. Others are smaller ones that I have been putting off for a while.

So here are my 20 goals for 2020:

1. Take down all the Christmas decorations
2. Send out holiday thank you cards
3. Write my first quarter blogging plan for 2020
4. Organize the formal dining room
5. Create our 2020 family budget
6. Launch an email newsletter
7. Organize the formal living room
8. Launch a podcast
9. Revamp website layout design
10. Clean out and vacuum my car
11. Edit and publish the first guest post on the blog
12. Compile my 2020 book reading goal list
13. Upload and backup vacation and family photos from 2019
14. Wake up between 5:00-6:00am two days a week to write for my blog
15. Incorporate workout videos into blog posts
16. Incorporate dry brushing and LED light therapy into my weekly skincare routine
17. Deep clean my kitchen oven
18. Create my social media posting schedule template for 2020
19. Get fitted for new orthopedic training shoes
20. Write out a weekly time block schedule for blog and social media content creation

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Now It’s Your Turn

Are you ready for 2020?

It’s here and it’s ready for you.

I want to really challenge you to come up with your own list of 20 goals for the new year.

Even if you aren’t sure how you’re going to execute them yet, the first step to accomplishing a goal is having a goal.

We will look at how to start setting up a game plan for successfully pursuing those goals in an upcoming post.

But the first step is in taking a few moments to sit down and write out your list. 

And remember, there are no “Goal Police” that are going to come after you if you want to change or restructure some of your goals later on.

Relax. Take a deep breath. You’ve got this. Now go write your list.

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Hey there, don’t leave yet!

We’re still getting to know each other! Don’t go away so soon. Here are a few more of my posts that I think you’re going to love.

10 Reasons for Ladies to Lift in 2020

How to Run (When You Suck at Running)

Why You Should Be Taking Collagen

How to Drink a Gallon of Water a Day

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All writing copyright © 2020 Rachel Elise Weems Woods