20 Questions for Planning New Year’s Goals

There’s been a growing trend of disdain towards New Year’s resolutions. I can understand why, to some degree, but I, for one, really like them. The trick is knowing how to pick the right resolutions, and then develop a healthy, realistic game plan for making them happen.

Some of you make resolutions, and some of you don’t – but many of you took the time to reflect on this past year.

Trust me when I say I’m talking to myself here – I can join the throngs of people who make resolutions in January with good intentions, and the lofty goals are long gone by February.

I prefer to make goals for the year instead of new year’s resolutions. With resolutions, you “resolve” to do something – and then hope for the best. With goals, you set a marker in the distance and make plans to get there.

Today, I’m posing a few questions that might help spark some ideas for your 2016 goals. Like before, either grab your journal and pen for some solace.

1. What skill do you most want to learn this year?
2. What is one skill you already have that you’d like to improve this year?
3. Name three books you most definitely want to read in 2016.
4. In what specific area do you most want to encourage your spouse? What are some ways you can do this?
5. Think of one of your major life goals. What will you do this year to make you one step closer to reaching that goal?
6. Name your kids’ biggest strengths. What are some ways you can specifically nourish those strengths?
7. Name your kids’ most prominent weakness. What are some ways you can encourage their ability to overcome it?
8. What is one of your strengths? Think of some specific ways you can exercise it this year.
9. What is one of your weaknesses? Brainstorm some ideas on how you can overcome this deficiency.
10. Think of an important relationship aside from your spouse and children. How will you nurture that relationship this year?
11. Name a few ways your physical health could be improved.
12. Name a few ways your family’s financial health could be improved.
13. In what way do you want to draw closer to God?
14. What is one area of home management that frustrates you? Think of some specific ways you could improve your attitude about it.
15. Have you ever created a family mission statement with your spouse? If so, why not do one for this year?
16. Name one specific thing you could do with your spouse this year that will deepen your intimacy.
17. What is something that is continually undone in your life? What will you do to fully complete it this year?
18. In what ways will you be involved with your local community?
19. What is one thing you’d like to accomplish by your birthday this year?
20. Think of three words you’d like to describe your 2016.

Mull over these questions this weekend, and see what sparks. Perhaps your answers will point to one specific area in your life that you want to focus on, to change or strengthen. Or perhaps your answers will reveal an overall theme, a burden within you that you’d like to see come to fruition holistically.

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