Goals can be chosen at any time. Yet a new year feels like a new start—a natural break to try something new. It’s no wonder we choose this time of the year to set goals.
Setting a focus helps me—without it, my attention wanders. Over my life, I’ve accomplished some goals—and let others go. The ideas of what seems worth pursuing changes with circumstance or attitude. Yet these efforts can help us define (and redefine) what matters.
I’m sharing my focus and goals at the beginning of the year. They continue themes I’ve focused on for some time, and I’m ready to share them out loud. My focus follows these guidelines:
- Choose meaningful goals built on small incremental changes.
- Embrace the pace—change comes slowly, sometimes so slowly it seems unperceivable. These changes make the most impact.
- Strive for balance—and acknowledge the give and take as attention ebbs and flows.
- Allow the goals to become refined by experience.
Choosing a focus and goals
Last year, I completed small, yet meaningful accomplishments despite the challenges of the year. In 2022, I’m building on this momentum to establish my platform.
This focus includes smaller goals:
- Expand my website, blog, and portfolio: In January 2021, I published my site. This year, I will build my portfolio. Portfolios should be living documents, so it’s an iterative process. I also plan to continue writing for my blog. I will write more frequently this year—if I can maintain the quality.
- Engage in professional development opportunities: When I started as an instructional designer (and managing editor of my team’s blog, Model eLearning), I connected with L&D, educator, and writing communities of practice. The chaos of balancing childcare with working from home during the pandemic reduced my engagement with these communities. I’m slowly returning to networking with them as well as connecting with peers and faculty in my graduate program. I also hope to explore other avenues of publishing (perhaps open educational resource (OER) publication).
- Immerse in meaningful learning: Last spring, I started a list of topics I’d like to understand better. Some topics relate to instructional and learning design, others relate to storytelling and plain writing, and still others relate to random topics I’m curious about. Now that I’m starting my second semester of graduate school, I want to be strategic with how I research, learn, and apply these topics.
Take it slow: Responding to uncertainty
So far, this year’s theme seems to be show up, be proactive, and don’t let disruption ruin the day. We’re all trying our best—despite the circumstances. It might take longer than we hope, but a meaningful focus helps us determine what matters. What’s your focus for 2022? Are you still typing 2021 (or 2020) instead of 2022? Let me know how you’re adapting to this year.
