Set Achievable Goals That You WILL Reach
Already failed at your New Year’s Resolution? You’re not alone. Many of us set out to start out a new year with a new goal, yet few of us stay committed to these longer than January. Why is that? It isn’t that our goals are bad, or that we are a bad people for not being able to follow through with our commitments. It may be because we are setting goals in the wrong way.
“Make a plan; work the plan” is often our new year’s mentality. However, in this format it seems that making the plan is the easy part and working the plan is nearly impossible. Often when we set goals like this, we are setting ourselves up to fail. We set goals that are lofty, ambiguous and, frankly, overwhelming. Many don’t know where to start to accomplish this goal, so we move through the year without moving anywhere near our goal. How do we combat this then? How do we follow through on our goals?
We can start by making our lofty goals into SMART goals. That’s right! SMART goals aren’t just for organizations anymore!
S(pecific): The more specific the better.
M(easurable): Everything is measurable if you get creative. Wanting to feel more confident by the end of the year? Check in with yourself weekly on a scale of 1-10 and record it in a journal.
A(ttainable): Be kind to yourself and really consider this. Set an “unambitious” goals that inch you closer to your overarching goal. This gives us our “small victories” when we accomplish a small part of our goal, this is grounds for celebration!
R(elevant): Why is this important to you? How will this make your life better by accomplishing this goal? Write this answer down and reflect on it often.
T(imebased): Be realistic in your deadlines and know that you can set a series of mini-SMART goals to be able to achieve your big SMART goal.
Instead of a New Year’s resolution that sounds like, “In 2020, I will be a true, dedicated yogi.” Make a New Year’s resolution that sounds like, “By the end of 2020, I will be able to practice the sun salutation from memory and “fly” crow. I will attend classes regularly at the studio by my house at least once a week and practice for 30 minutes at home once a week for the first month. At the end of the first month, I will evaluate if I need to increase the time I practice and if that is attainable in my current schedule. I will take a picture on the first day of this goal and on the last day of each month of me in crow position to see how I am progressing.”
While it may take a little longer to create, the results will be profound.
Make a SMART plan; work the SMART plan.
Hannah Bruins,
Counseling Intern
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