Happy New Year! Last year, I talked to my PT friends and colleagues to compile a list of professional resolutions. Now it’s time for us all to do a check-in and take stock.

Some people have achieved their goals, and that is so awesome! You should be incredibly proud of yourself, and I can only hope you are enjoying the rewards of your hard work and dedication.

However, others have not achieved their resolutions, and that is okay too. I know I have struggled to achieve mine; it has been a challenging year with unexpected obstacles and stressors making those goals that much further out of reach. And, aside from our individual circumstances, the world in general has had a tough couple of years. It can be hard enough just to get through right now, especially in healthcare.

So, while you don’t want to make excuses for yourself, you certainly shouldn’t be too hard on yourself either. And don’t quit- you can still get there.

When you do your resolution check-in, analyze your process a little bit. And be honest with yourself.

Questions to Ask:

Why didn’t I achieve my goals? Did I get in my own way? Were my goals too lofty? What obstacles did I face?

Do I still want the same things? What changes can I put into place to make them more achievable?

Strategies to help achieve your resolutions:

Break the goal down into smaller parts.

This is what we do every day in creating short-term goals for our patients. The path then becomes more manageable, and more clear. Small achievements to get to the bigger picture will feel just as good, and help to keep the motivation flowing.

Write them down.

I am a compulsive list-maker. I can tell you that checking an accomplishment, no matter how small, off your list is surprisingly satisfying (I think a lot of us know this). Sometimes I’ll even write things down after the fact, just so I can have the pleasure of crossing them off the list.

Writing your goals also helps to put them down in black and white so you can see the steps that need to be taken. Then you can start to tackle it in an organized, methodical way. Also, it has been proven that goals are more likely to be achieved if they are written down. So start putting pen to paper!

Share them with someone.

Having another person aware of what you are working toward will help keep you accountable. A partner that pushes you (while supporting you) can be invaluable, and perhaps you can reciprocate and do the same for them.

The Bottom Line:

Keep going, keep moving forward. Don’t give up on yourself or your goals. We always need to keep growing and learning, both as individuals and as therapists. And never forget to be kind to yourself along the way.