Every year my wife and I spend an afternoon together writing down our goals and manifesting the future that we want for our family and ourself.
We’ve learned to reflect on the things we desire and take time to thoughtfully write them down. Words have power and when written down they can become your reality. However, your goals can fall apart if you are unable to defeat the distractions that prevent you from accomplishing them.
Don’t Repeat Last Years Distractions
Before you craft your 2018 goals, I suggest you reflect on the things that distracted you from accomplishing your 2017 goals. It will come to no surprise that social media and cell phone use top the list.
According to research aggregated by Medikix, below is the average time spent per day across the most popular social media sites in 2016:
Add these minutes over the course of the year and your jaw may drop! Below are the total hours per year the average user spends on each site.
Youtube = 240 hours
Facebook = 213 hours
Snapchat = 152 hours
Instagram = 91 hours
Twitter = 6 hours
Even if you are only on Facebook, you spend upwards of 200+ hours per year! Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
Just imagine how far you could advance your goals by redirecting your time to something more productive. Here are a few examples to inspire you for 2018:
- Read a 300 page book in 10 hours
- Train for a half marathon in 28 hours
- Learn Spanish in 480 hours
- Become a basic guitar player in 120 hours
And these are just a few thought starters!
Digging Deeper
How long do you think it takes to repair a relationship with a loved one? How about the self care required to heal the emotional pain you’ve been holding onto for the past decade? Or breaking that habit you know isn’t good for you? All of these things require an intentionality that is best cultivated by spending time reflecting and writing — not scrolling and liking.
Your time is precious. There is no app, no post, and no amount of virtual attention that can replace the benefit of investing time towards goals that advance your emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
My Challenge To You!
Invest time in passions and people that matter most to you.
Travel beyond fake news and edited moments portrayed online.
Begin to thrive in an environment created first in your mind, then on paper, and eventually in the world around you.
Anything is possible in 2018.
Write your goals down!