This Saturday, January 18^th marks one year of launching this blog.  I am proud.  Curly Roots Blog has provided me an outlet to express myself and connect with you, my readers.  I appreciate the dialogue we have created this past year.  I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

 As is common with the start of a new year I have goals I want to achieve in 2020.  In regards to hair, below are the achievements I am planning for myself this year:

• Learn to press my hair with a pressing comb
• Learn how to wet set my hair
• Refine my braiding technique and neatness
• Wear my hair out more often and practice creating various styles
• Create a hydrating leave-in conditioner or styling product
• Continue scalp massages and regrow my thinning hair spots

All these goals are achievable, especially when setting deadlines and milestones.  SMART goals help one accomplish the tasks set before her.  Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time-Bound is an acronym I first learned in college and it has been tremendously helpful in goal setting and attainment.  Equally important in achieving goals is having a commitment to the goal.  Passion and desire alone simply cannot move one towards accomplishment.  How many times in your life have you lost excitement when working on a project or working on the job?  What keeps you marching towards that task?  For me, it has been a commitment to my word or in other words, integrity in my work.  I think too often people place a high value on needing passion to fuel them when commitment will suffice.  When it comes to working towards my goals this year, I am going to commit to the deadlines and the tasks because I know that my desires wanes and waxes.

• 

For example, truth be told, I lack patience to straighten my hair with a flat iron (which is partially why I do it irregularly), therefore I am curious to see how I will do using a pressing comb as that takes more precision.  I am scared to burn myself or worse burn my hair.  (Actually, I did burn my hair once in high school.  I called myself “freshening up” my press – I heated the hot comb, tested it on the paper towel, saw the paper burn but, of course, it did not register to me that meant the comb was too hot and would burn my hair.  I then proceeded to move the hot comb through my section of hair.  Next, I saw my hair turn blonde, then break off and fall to the floor.  I was shocked and embarrassed.  Fortunately, it wasn’t a large section of hair and it was in a location that was easy to conceal from both others and my mother who would have surely had words for me if she found out I burned my hair.) However, my desire to learn this new skill outweighs my fear and laziness.  Furthermore, I am scheduling dates to practice to ensure I work towards my goal.

Lastly, finding an accountability partner may be particularly helpful in succeeding.  An accountability partner is someone you discuss your goals with, who checks in with you regarding your progress.  Who in your life can you keep you accountable?

To summarize, follow these steps in 2020 to be effective at crushing your goals:

1. Set SMART goals
2. Stay committed
3. Do not solely rely on desire to motivate you
4. Find an accountability partner

What new skills do you want to learn in 2020?  What are the accomplishments you look forward to making this year?  How will you go about achieving them?  Let me know by commenting below.

Cheers to achieving our 2020 goals!