SMART Goal
Setting
Strategies
Write
down the
goal you
want to
reach. Now
take some
time, look
at your goal
and evaluate
it. Make any
changes
necessary to
ensure that
your goal
adheres to
the SMART
goal
criteria as
outlined
below:
SMART
goals are
Specific,
Measurable,
Attainable,
Realistic,
and Timely.
Ensure
the goal you
set for
yourself is
very
Specific,
clear and
easy. Your
goal should
be
straightforward
and
emphasize
what you
want to
happen.
Being
specific
helps us
focus our
efforts and
clearly
define what
we are going
to do. Being
specific
helps us
define the
what, when,
where, why,
which, and
who. For
instance, a
goal that is
too general
would be "to
get in
shape" while
one that is
more
appropriately
specific
would be "to
run three
miles three
times per
week."
If you
can't
measure it,
you can't
manage it.
Ensure that
the goal you
set for
yourself is
Measurable
using
concrete
criteria by
which you
can evaluate
your
progress.
When you can
measure each
small step
of progress
toward your
goal, it
will help
you to stay
on track,
experience
the
exhilaration
of success,
and continue
to move
forward
toward what
you
ultimately
want to
achieve. For
example, a
goal of
"eating
healthy" is
not
measurable,
however "to
eat at least
five
servings of
fruit and
vegetables
per day" is
a measurable
goal.
SMART
goals are
Attainable.
By setting
our goals
too high, we
set
ourselves up
for failure
-they're
just too
hard to
commit to.
Our goals
need to
stretch us
slightly so
we have
confidence
that we can
do it, but
not so much
that they
are
unattainable.
Even if we
want to
achieve a
given
outcome, if
we
consciously
or
subconsciously
think it is
too
difficult to
achieve,
then we are
setting
ourselves up
for
disappointment.
Rather, the
feeling of
success on
small
incremental
goals
motivates us
on to
achieve
bigger and
more
difficult
things. For
example, a
goal of
"losing 10
pounds in
one week" is
unrealistic
for most
people;
however, a
goal of
"losing one
pound per
week" is
likely to be
attainable.
Ensure
that the
goal you set
for yourself
is
Realistic.
A realistic
goal is one
that is
doable, one
you believe
you can
actually
achieve, and
a goal that
you are both
willing and
able to work
toward.
Setting a
realistic
goal doesn't
mean it
needs to be
easy.
Sometimes
more
challenging
goals can
really
increase our
motivation
to work
toward
accomplishment.
However,
setting
unrealistic
goals for
ourselves
can be a
recipe for
disappointment
and failure.
For
instance,
eliminating
sweet foods
from your
diet may be
realistic
for us in
January
while the
same goal
might be
very
unrealistic
during the
holiday
season,
depending
upon your
holiday
eating
traditions.
Finally,
SMART goals
are
Timely.
We each need
to set time
lines for
targeted
accomplishment
of our goal.
If you don't
set a time
line for
accomplishing
your goal
then your
goal is
likely to
feel too
vague and
have no
sense of
urgency.
Without a
time-frame,
there is
little
incentive to
take action
to make
change now,
since you
could really
do it
anytime. A
goal to
simply
"clean out
the garage"
lacks a
timeframe
and any
urgency,
however to
"clean out
the garage
before you
leave for
vacation, "
does include
a specific
time-frame.
Time-frames
should be
measurable,
attainable
and
realistic.
We hope
these SMART
goal setting
strategies
are helpful
in setting
you up for
success in
2008!
If you
think you
might
benefit from
some
assistance,
please give
us a call.
To schedule
an
individual
appointment
or to
request a
consultation
call
612-926-8149
today.
Happy New
Year!
|
And in the end, it’s not the
years in your life that count.
It’s the life in your years.”
