LET’S BE S.M.A.R.T.
Each day we are faced with different decisions. And with each day we hope to make smart decisions. But, today we’re not focusing on “smart” decisions. The focus for today is the importance of S.M.A.R.T goals.
S.M.A.R.T? What’s that? What is a S.M.A.R.T goal? It is a mnemonic acronym that helps in setting goals. Today, we will be examining this mnemonic acronym to see how we can use this in setting goals.
SPECIFIC. Be specific. Make sure your goals are specific. What is the goal? When is this goal to be completed? Why do you want to complete this goal? For example, you may say one of your goals is to be healthier. Although wanting to be healthy is a good goal, it’s not specific. Try to get specific and dig deeper. For example, a goal could be that you want to lose 40 pounds within 4 months. This goal is more specific. You are aware of what the goal is and when you want to complete it.
MEASURABLE. Making sure that your goal is measurable is key. When your goals are measurable it provides an opportunity to measure the progress of your goal. For example, let’s continue to use the previous example where the goal was to lose 40 pounds within 4 months. What makes this goal measurable? There is some type of metrics attached to the goal. Having the goal to lose 40 pounds makes the goal measurable. Why? Well, what will determine that you have reached your goal? Isn’t when you lose the 40 pounds? See, when your goals are measurable you will be to clearly define your progress.
ACHIEVEABLE. How do you plan on achieving this goal? Break the goal down. What needs to be done in the next 4 months in order to lose 40 pounds? You could create a meal plan. You could also plan how many days you would exercise or go to the gym. These little things help to break down the original goal. The smaller steps need to be specific. Making them specific helps to make the goal more achievable.
Relevant. Keep your goals relevant. Why is this goal relevant? Why is it of importance to you? How do you benefit from achieving this goal? Think about how you’ll feel once you achieve this goal. Sometimes it helps to also write down the answers to these questions on a piece of paper and post it somewhere to remind you of why this goal is so important to you.
TIME-BOUND. There needs to be a due date attached to your goal. Make sure that the due date attached to the goal is realistic. If the due date is not realistic, it will be hard to make this goal achievable. When there is a due date it helps to create a sense of urgency towards the goal. This is very important.
So, when creating a goal, do it the S.M.A.R.T. way. Make sure your goals are specific. What is the goal and when do you want it to be completed? Remember your goals need to be measurable and achievable. Break the goal down. Think about how you plan on achieving the goal. While you do that examine the goal’s relevance. Why is this goal of priority to you? Finally, make sure that you have a due date for your goal. Doing all these things will make accomplishing a goal a lot easier.
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