As a new year rings in, do you find yourself tired of setting goals that seem overwhelming, leaving you feeling discouraged and unmotivated within days or weeks? We've all been there! With the start of each new year, many of us set ambitious goals for ourselves. My social media feeds - and I imagine yours are too - are flowing with people announcing their list of lofty, vague goals, and in some cases even reusing last year’s list of goals in an attempt to create accountability for themselves. The enthusiasm for positive change is inspiring yet how can we make this year different from any other?
Let’s change the cycle. No more vague and aimless goals—it's time to set SMART ones! By using this powerful method, you'll remain clear on what you want and will stay on the road to achieving your goal. Whether you're trying to finally make that career move, improve your fitness, or simply strive for better balance in life -- going back to basics has never been more important. Why? Because you are worth accomplishing your goal!
As we dive in, write down your goal. Just one. Too often we create a long list of goals that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. Focus on one goal to start.
Now, write down why you want to achieve this.
Most of us know what a SMART goal is, but still, a quick refresher: a SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Timely, and a relatively new addition: self-determined (this is your why). So, really, SMARTS!
As our example today, let’s take the most common type of new year’s resolution out there: the goal of losing weight.
Specific
It’s not enough to want to lose weight so you can go on vacation this year. Get detailed about numbers. “I want to lose 12 pounds by vacation week in mid-February.”
Measurable
Once you are very specific in your goal above, you can then measure your progress. “I will aim to lose about 2 pounds per week between now and then.”
"It's not enough to want to do the thing."
Action-oriented
This is your what and your how. What actions will you take so that you can lose 2 pounds per week? “I will work out three times per week, and I will take the stairs instead of the elevator. Each meal I eat will include vegetables.”
Realistic
What actions can you realistically complete each week to ensure you act on your promise to yourself? Do you only have time to work out for 30 minutes? Or, do you have an hour in the evening to move once you’ve wrapped up your day? Be real about what you can fit into your day/week.
Timely
This represents the time-frame in which you want to accomplish your goal. Goals should have a clear start and end date. “Starting on January 1, I will work to lose the weight by February 12.”
Self-determined
Why. Why do you want to accomplish the goal of losing 12 pounds before going on vacation? When you delve into the why of your goal, you will get to the true feeling of why you want to accomplish it. That is your key. Knowing your why is your motivation for ensuring you are determined enough to take the necessary steps to accomplish what you’ve set out to do!
And that is the SMARTS method, simplified.
How does it feel now that you’ve written down the details of your SMARTS goal? Is it attainable? If not, that’s okay; rework the specifics above so that it is achievable! By using the SMARTS method as your guide, you give yourself a much better chance at achieving those goals than if you simply set out with a vague idea of what you want to do.
And while it’s tempting to try and tackle a million things at once, start small with one or two goals. Setting too many goals at once can be overwhelming and lead to discouragement before you even begin. Pick one area of your life that you want to focus on this year, and commit to making it happen. Get that new job, nail your fitness goal, or save the money and go on that amazing vacation. You deserve whatever it is!
What goal do you have this year? Comment below or send me a message – I’d love to hear from you!