Happy New Year Everyone! Did you make a New Year’s resolution? How are you doing with it? We are 5 days into setting new goals for many of us. Sometimes we can be successful at making these changes while other times we can just give up. One way that people have been very successful is creating SMART goals. Reviewing this well known goal setting technique will hopefully help you be more successful this year.
SMART Goals
S Specific
M Measurable
A Attainable
R Relevant
T Timely
Be Specific: When setting a new goal you will want to be as specific as possible. Making a goal such as I will be healthier or I will pay off my debt are not specific. Examples of more specific goals would be something like I will lose 10lbs in 3 months by working out 5 days a week or I will pay off $1,000.00 toward my debt.
Measurable goals: Measurable goals allow you to track your progress. Using the weight loss example, you could measure progress by pounds, blood work or even how your clothes are fitting.
Attainable: Having a goal that is attainable is important. If your goal is to pay off all your debt make sure that is realistic. If you have $50,000 in debt and make $40,000/year, that may not be a realistic goal. A more attainable goal would be picking one specific area of your debt (bill, student loan or car) and work toward that goal.
Relevant: Determine if this is a goal that you want to achieve. Sometimes we can be influenced by others or “think” we should do something. If you are not invested in the goal chances are you will not be as successful.
Time: Setting time frames will help you be successful. Setting an overall time frame and then mini time frames will help lead to success. When working on losing weight, a mini goal would be working out 5 days a week by January, while losing 10lbs by May is the larger goal.
So now you know how set SMART goals. Start today. Instead of just reading this post and moving on, take out a piece of paper and try this quick easy exercise to get yourself motivated. I would love to hear what some of your goals are for this upcoming year.
Happy New Year,
Jessica Fowler, LCSW