Personal reflections and a how-to guide
How the pandemic has shaped my goals and vision for 2021, and how you can shape yours
Self-reflecting and creating sustainable goals during a pandemic
A multitude of faces just rushing to the same monotonous routine; we complained about the commute over coffee.
A colleague always wanted to chat or pulled me in to take a break right when my focus peaked. These little disturbances that were earlier a reason to complain might be what we miss most about the workplace.
When lockdown first happened and all was remote, I was intrigued about how it will all pan out. To my surprise, I was uber-productive my first month in (especially since I was someone who rarely took advantage of the workplace flex policy of work-from-home). I got a lot more done in a workday than I ever did in the workplace, and I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride when I shut my laptop and headed for bed.
Soon, days merged into nights and my sense of boundaries, which the commute to work enforced, slipped away from my fingers. The productivity was not so productive anymore. The feeling of loneliness set in. I looked forward to those elaborate Zoom trivia nights with my friends on weekends; they seemed to be my only escape. This phase helped me learn that physical distance doesn’t necessarily have to mean social distance. All those that I had lost touch with using the excuse of different time zones, I could reconnect with — it just took a little extra care and effort.
The next phase of Covid-19 was being easily distracted and the hatred for all things Zoom. My addiction to binging Netflix kicked in, just like a caffeine hit, and took over my disciplined 6 AM routine. For the majority of the day, I was a slouch on the couch.
Now, as I find my balance almost a year in, and return to a small degree of normalcy (with many precautions), I find that these testing times have been a time for serious reflection.
For me, this time has been both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, I’ve got to spend a lot more time with my family, on the other hand, we are trying our best not to kill one another. On one hand, I’ve rediscovered my love for reading, and on the other, I’ve watched more TV than is healthy for the brain.
It’s been a productive time and a really lonely time.
And now, my priorities for 2021 and the person I aspire to be are clearer than ever.
Breaking down my goals for 2021
Through peak performance coaching, I was able to set clear goals and strategies to bounce back and find my chi. I want to focus on constantly learning, on growing my knowledge base, and on my health beyond anything else. And not just physical health, but also emotional, mental, and social health. Ensuring that I follow a daily routine is a focus for 2021 and beyond, because I feel truly energized, productive, and positive when I follow one.
The smaller goals matter too — sometimes just as much. I want to write more and watch more TED talks. I want to go on long walks and enjoy the limited time I have with my dog and my grandparents. I want to not take the little things for granted anymore and to find my centre.
Most importantly, I want to be present — to be actively engaged and present in every moment I spend with others. I want to cherish the time I get with my friends and loved ones. Being open, vulnerable, and a curious listener is what I wish to attain. This is my main guiding factor, my purpose for the year.
These might seem like a lot of things and feel overwhelming, but it’s easy to ensure that it’s not just words you write at the beginning of the year and forget as the months progress. My coach, Lisa Windfield, helped me identify 1-year, 6-month, and 3-month goals — just 3 main goals to focus on and break down piecemeal. Just to share, at a higher level, mine are:
- To learn tennis and boxing: To consistently attend my classes (2x per week for Tennis and 3x per week for boxing) for the next 6 months and not drop out.
- To take the GMAT by August: To not only take the test but to get an 800 on it as well (I know it’s hard but the challenge keeps me driven).
- To connect with at least 1 friend per week: Social health is something we most easily compromise but it is important for our well-being
These three goals for me are holistic. They take care of my mental, physical, and emotional health. The key to following through here is to create SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable (but challenging), Realistic, and Time-bound. You must then set these in your calendar or note down specific times for them first, and then mould the rest of your to-do’s around these key goals (not the other way around).
Visualizing and connecting with the goals we set
This morning, Lisa taught me a strategy to envision these goals every day and to keep my purpose clear. You can do the same, by just following her words below:
So, close your eyes, and think how you would feel in 6 months when you achieve these goals.
Really connect with your emotions.
Smell what you would smell. See what you would see. Embrace who you would be.
You must link with your goals emotionally and passionately. So take time out to reflect on what these goals really mean to you, and what it would mean to you if you could not achieve these. I promise you that this exercise will leave you feeling motivated, focused, and content.
Accountability is key so you don’t fall off the path
As a person who has many passions, I have set many goals in the past but have been unable to follow through. That is why I felt that it was important for me to share what has worked for me, in hopes to encourage those of you that are stuck in that same loop.
Getting a coach has been a huge booster for my personal growth. All the strategies that you read online or someone shares may not work for you. But trying them out and constantly trying to incorporate these changes into your everyday life in a piecemeal fashion helps you figure out what does work. Lisa’s recommendation of breaking my goals down into smaller short term goals, scheduling them into my week, and having someone hold me accountable for them has made a difference in the way I live my life and how I pursue my dreams.
Most importantly, as my father now brings a piping hot brew of medium roast coffee every day at 2 PM for the two of us to share, I no longer complain about the commute. Instead, I cherish this midday chat. It is the only thing that vaguely resembles the water cooler conversations that I so miss. Yes, the same ones that I considered distractions in the office earlier.
Let the year of the pandemic be a year to learn from — that of self-reflection, clear intent, and transformation. Let it guide who you want to be and what you wish to achieve.
