While it’s great to be focused, the most successful Wildcatters strive to find the right balance in life. There are many important things in life – family, health, work, rest – and favoring any one of these will cause the others to suffer in an unhealthy way. Think of these components of your life like a wheel: it puts weight on all its spokes evenly, and taking just one away will cause the entire wheel to lose balance and eventually crash. Wildcatters Network has come up with the “Wheel Of Life” to help guide the goal making process, consisting of what we value as the top eight most important factors to a successful, happy life.
When writing down your goal list, it is always helpful to organize your thoughts. Use these categories to guide your thought process and discussions with your fellow Wildcatters at goal night.
Family
First and foremost, family. Nothing else on this list means anything if you can’t share it with family, or if your personal relationships have to suffer for it. No man is an island and a solid support system is invaluable for success. Maybe you want to have a date night with your spouse once a month, call your parents more often, or take a short vacation with a sibling. Investing time in these close relationships takes planning and commitment, but it’s well worth it!
Career and Work
Financial security is important, but Wildcatters like to use Goal Night to dream big – start that new venture you’ve been mulling over, try a new marketing venue, or set a new sales goal. Some goals may seem daunting, but a year is going pass whether or not you’re working towards big goals, so this is the perfect time to set your sights high.
Health and Physical
Physical and mental health are easy to neglect when focusing on other things that seem more urgent, but it’s important to keep constant tabs on this. A weekly exercise routine too much to commit to? Start with small things like taking the stairs over the elevator more often, or switching to whole grain bread and pasta. Don’t forget about mental health too – take a yoga class or plan a mental health day.
Social and Friends
Personal relationships are the backbone of a solid network, both personal and professional. It is important to value and nurture these relationships in order for them to grow. Invite a new coworker to lunch, host a cocktail party, visit an old friend in their hometown – be adventurous!
Educational and Intellectual
Wildcatters are constantly learning and working towards self improvement, and New Year’s resolutions are a great time to take stock of you professional skills and think about what you would like to add to your repertoire. Take a Spanish class at your local community college, rent a new Great Course from your local library each month, read 5 relevant books…go general or get specific, you know what you need to master and what you want to learn!
Community
The New Year is also a good time to reflect on community and your role in the larger society. Investing in your community is important and can lead to both short and long term change. If you’ve got the money, here are some great charities to give to. If you don’t, no problem! Volunteering your time and skills is just as valuable.
Hobby and Fun
It’s not all work all the time! Having a good hobby or taking the time to disconnect and relax can be very valuable for mental health and interpersonal relationships, among other things. Challenge your brain by practicing how to use your non-dominant hand for everything, take a girls trip to Vegas, visit your local museums, or even learn how to juggle. The only question you have to ask yourself is….why not?
Spiritual
Whether or not you subscribe to a religion, at least take a moment to consider your spiritual and psychic situation and well-being. Start meditating, make a friend of a different religion, read a philosophy book, or even make a plan to visit a loved one’s faraway grave. This category can mean what you want it to mean, so take advantage of this unique time to take stock of your life.