Do you believe in the power of New Year’s resolutions? What about the ‘new year, new me” sentiment? What are some of your goals for the new year? Whether you participate in New Year’s resolutions or not, there’s no denying the importance of setting goals as both a father and a Prime driver.

James Rose, a veteran and Prime driver of over three years, shares some of his insights when it comes to setting goals, both for the new year and in general.

Set realistic goals

Unfortunately, some of us are guilty of setting lofty goals when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. Goals, like losing weight or learning a new skill, without the proper tools to accomplish them, can lead some to feeling hopeless. For James, setting realistic goals for yourself, and knowing what your boundaries are, can go a long way.

“Be realistic with yourself,” James said. “Don’t say ‘I’m going to climb a mountain’ when in reality, you can only climb a hill!”

Sometimes reframing the goal is a good place to start. Instead of a lofty and vague goal like “lose weight,” try something more concrete, like “drink X amount of water a day,” or “exercise at least ten minutes a day.”

Learn more about and continue improving yourself

Have you ever heard the phrase “new year, new me?” It’s not the most realistic approach, and it tends to erase what you’ve done in the past without learning from it. James stressed the importance of getting to know yourself and improving yourself.

By learning more about yourself, e.g., your wants, your dreams and your goals, you’re on the right track for ensuring that the new year is filled with accomplishments.

Make a list

As a Prime driver, you know the importance of knowing what your priorities are. We even discussed it in a previous blog post. Prioritize your most important goals, and make a list to keep track of them.

“Make a list and prioritize,” James said. “For example, if you have ten things you want to accomplish, ensure that the highest number one priority positively affects the lowest number ten

priority. Don’t be afraid to revisit and reprioritize as some items may move up or even be accomplished early.”

Creating a list and having it written down/typed out will increase your motivation to accomplish and cross out those goals as you complete them.

Keep moving forward

While cliché, the phrase “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is applicable for Prime fathers especially! The truth is, you may not reach all your goals within a given time frame, and that’s okay. Keep moving forward, and keep trying.

“Be confident in yourself and press forward, not accepting NO for an answer,” James said. “Find a way to accomplish your goals, (versus) saying, ‘Well, I tried.’”

Final Words

It’s okay if you ultimately decide that New Year’s resolutions aren’t for you. However, it’s still important to recognize the importance and benefits of setting goals for yourself as a Prime driver.

James’ advice?

“Make a plan, execute your plan and follow through with your plan.”

Good Dads wishes you and your families a safe and happy “haul”-iday season!