How are those New Year’s resolutions working out …? Or, how about that goal you set to master a new life skill or reach a new fitness milestone?
If you repeatedly find yourself failing to reach important goals, don’t give up! Instead, it’s time to discover a powerful fresh approach that can R.E.W.I.R.E your mind for success in any endeavor.
S.M.A.R.T. goal setting is a proven methodology that should be your first step at the start of any new project. The S.M.A.R.T acronym implies that in order to be successful, a goal should be:
Specific
Measurable
Actionable
Realistic … and,
Time-bound
Read on for my top tips for S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting:
1. Write It Down (get specific!)
The first step towards setting any new goal, is to set aside some uninterrupted quality time to get quiet and write it down. Get specific. Think, who? what? when? where? and why? as useful prompts. How is this goal going to affect me? What are the steps required to get there? What is my “why?” And – most important – what will my life be like once I achieve this?
2. Make It Realistic
Get real. Every goal should be within reasonable reach of your current abilities and resources. There’s no point in setting goals that are almost impossible imagine – yet alone achieve – since you’re almost certainly setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. Instead, hold onto the big vision, but break it down into smaller, incremental steps. It’s important to feel inspired, but by achieving a series of smaller, more realistic goals, you’ll start building confidence and momentum .. and soon find yourself venturing way beyond your former “comfort zone.” (#Winning!).
3. Make it Actionable … and then, take action!
A goal without a plan is just a dream. Write out the action steps needed, and create a realistic (see above!) action plan with deadlines and milestones. The use of a clear action plan is critical to your success, and helps boost focus, motivation and organization. Now that you have a solid plan, it’s time to take action! Have you structured your plan such that you have PRIORITIZED the time required to work towards your goal each day? If things aren’t going well, review the plan, adjust and refine. But above all, honor yourself by following–through. Do it for you.
4. Measure Your Progress
Set milestones. Measure your progress. When we actively track our activities we maintain focus and boost motivation. There are many ways to do this. For example, you might use a fitness watch or activity monitor on your smartphone – these are great for tracking health goals. Alternatively, the use of a daily journal, calendar and “alerts” are essential tools for to staying motivated and keeping your goal top of mind. You can also take things a step further by working with a coach, like-minded community or mentor to help keep yourself accountable. Meanwhile, don’t forget to celebrate the small wins and give yourself a daily pat-on-the back along the way. Go to sleep with a smile … you did good!
5. Get help
If a goal is important to you, but you find yourself struggling, don’t give up. GET HELP. Perhaps you need the support of a mentor, coach or teacher. Or the aid of inspirational books, apps or tools like hypnosis.
Invest in yourself. BELIEVE in your dreams. And set SMART goals that set yourself up for success!