How to Set Goals (ft. Frozen & Frozen 2)!

Do you ever feel bored? Do you feel like there's nothing to do, or that you never live up to expectations? Well lucky for you, this post will give you all the tips you need on staying productive and setting goals, using music videos from Frozen and Frozen 2! (Mild spoiler alert)

From "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" (Frozen)

Step 1: Don't ignore things that you may be interested in

From "Into the Unknown" (Frozen 2)

I think you can agree - we all have periods when we feel lazy. We kind of want to do something, whether it be some kind of art project, video, TikTok, or homework assignment. But we also want to just lay there and sleep or play video games until we forget about our goal. Don't ignore that whisper.

Personally, I've always liked different forms of visual art as a hobby. With schoolwork and video games, I've been pulled away from this for years. So my personal resolution during quarantine is to focus more and learn the technicals of art as it has a lot of branching-out potential too.

Step 2: Figure out if your goal is attainable

From "Lost in the Woods" (Frozen 2)

Doctor. Check. Astronaut? Check. Marrying the sister of a monarch with magical ice powers? Check. Luckily, Kristoff was able to sort out his issues and reach his goal. But for all you dreamers, take a moment to think if your goal is attainable. It can be far fetched, but it has to be within the laws of physics.

One such "unrealistic goal" for me was a professional e-sports player. Although the industry is becoming lucrative and popular, I find playing video games for the rest of my life a bit unfulfilling (aside from the fact that I don't have the top-notch skills).

Step 3: Have a list

From "Let it Go" (Frozen)

Elsa's list of tasks isn't all that enviable. But it was memorable and easy to keep track of. Keep a list of goals, preferably daily goals, in your to-do list or agenda. This way, you can keep track of what you want to or have to do. From a successful businessman: "Every morning, I list down 3 career-oriented goals and 3 personal goals that I would want accomplish that day"

I always have a list of homework to do and books to read (both school and self-assigned.) For example, over winter, I had the goal of doing an online medical neuroscience course and learning Matlab and python. Through rigorous planning and listing, I was able to achieve all these and learn enough to contribute to labs.

Step 4: One step at a time

From "The Next Right Thing" (Frozen 2)

An overweight man who has never exercised before walks into the gym. He asks the trainer to help him lose weight. That day, the trainer made him do 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run. What? No! This is the biggest issue with New Years resolutions like exercising and dieting. Unless you have massive willpower for months, take a step at a time. Otherwise, you'll burn yourself out within a week into your resolution.

While this advice is true for most people, I do like to dive into things quickly. Remember, use this advice to guide you, not to drag you through the mud.

Step 5: Commit to your goals

From "Some Things Never Change" (Frozen 2)

A lot of us are too scared of uncertainty when we first make a goal. If you've already rationalized that it can be doable, then commit to it. Start moving towards your goal one step at a time unceasingly. And with the right mindset, you will be able to take advantage of the moments that come.

One "goal" I have is to find a lifelong passion. This is something I have moved towards recently and haven't stopped (in part because I don't want to fall behind).

Tip 6: Have a network of support

From "Love is an Open Door" (Frozen)

Prince Hans of the Southern Isle. Love him or hate him, he was almost able to take over the whole Kingdom of Arendelle. Why? Because he was able to network - first with the princess and then with the rest of the kingdom and its allies. He only failed after attempting to murder both the princess and the existing monarch. So lesson learned: build bridges, don't burn them.

A network of support could be people with similar interests or people that can keep you accountable. For example, a goal I have over this quarantine is to work out more. Normally, I would have stopped a month in. But by video-calling one of my friends to work out together, I've been able to stick to a semi-consistent schedule.

Step 7: Keep track of your accomplishments

From "Show Yourself" (Frozen 2)

One of the biggest reasons we give up is because we don't feel like we did anything. Keeping a clear list of accomplishments that you can revisit, whether it be the checkmarks on your to-do list, the sketches you made a month ago, or the amount of reps/weights you use when working out can both motivate and help you keep track of where to move next. This is perhaps one of the most important steps in keeping a goal.

All the examples I gave in the above are real examples of how I keep myself motivated towards my goals. It's always satisfying to check off another homework (such as this one) once I finish. And seeing improvements in my spacial visualization and weights is also motivating.

In conclusion, always have a big picture in mind

In case you haven't noticed, the first song in Frozen 2, "All is Found" is a summary of the rest of the movie. It outlines the movie's progression and purpose. Similarly, your goals should be part of a long term picture. Don't think of them in terms of days, weeks, or even months. As a famous gym trainer has pointed out before, the word "diet" implies that you're temporarily changing your eating habits and that you'll eventually go back to your "normal eating habits." Don't set short term goals. Have a long term perspective to change who you are.

Happy goal-setting!

(Speaking of Frozen, here is a picture of me a few years ago on the snowy mountains of Mammoth)