Make SMART New Year’s Resolutions
Our previous article covered setting and achieving New Year’s resolutions. Have you chosen a goal and written a goal statement? A goal statement is the foundation and integral to your success of any change you want to make. Good goal statements should be SMART so that it completely defines the outcome that you seek to accomplish.
As a reminder a smart goal is based on the results you are working to accomplish and establishes achievable parameters for success. A SMART goal is:
- S specific. What will be accomplished?
- M measurable. What will measure the goal?
- A achievable. Is it doable? Do you have the skills and resources?
- R relevant. How is the goal important to you?
- T time-bound What is completion date?
Common goals improve something, make something, save something or develop yourself.
Make a Plan for Your New Year’s Resolutions
To be successful SMART New Year’s resolutions must be complemented by detailed action plans. A good action plan provides the framework for achieving the SMART goal. It helps map out the necessary tasks with a schedule of milestones.
Start with a timetable of your activities. For example if your goal is to lose 20 pounds in 4 months that is 5 pounds each month. What do you need to do each week to meet the goal?
Start with a timetable of your activities. For example if your goal is to lose 20 pounds in 4 months that is 5 pounds each month. What do you need to do each week to meet the goal?
Determine what you will need to hit the goal and how you will measure it. Supplement your timetable of activities by identifying people with whom you need to coordinate and who will be impacted. In our weight loss example above, your change in diet may impact your family’s menu choices. So make sure the family is on board. Enlist their help and cooperation. Can they help with accountability? Can they become your cheerleaders.
Action plan success depends on three things. It must be detailed, it must be doable and it must allow for accountability. In our weight loss example above. Our action plan would be to lose 4 pounds a month by following an eating plan and exercising three times a week. Detailed, doable and accountable by weighing each week and keeping an exercise chart. Be sure to celebrate your successes and small wins.
Measure Your Success
The last step in successfully attaining your New Year’s Resolutions (or meeting any of your goals) is to monitor the steps of your plan by evaluating your progress. Adjust your plan if necessary. If things aren’t working don’t quit, adjust. Figure out what is not working and why. Then modify your plan.
Do not rely on your memory. Keep a written record of your progress, updated daily or weekly. This journal of your progress will become a source of pride and satisfaction.
Find a New Year’s Resolution Buddy
Last but not least, many people find it helpful to buddy-up with someone with similar goals. For example, you might need to find a workout partner. Many people enlist the help of a life coach to help with developing original priorities, setting SMART goals and putting together an action plan. A life coach certainly can help with any problems or adjustments that need to be made and visiting regularly with a life coach for a few weeks will help with accountability and success.
If I can be of any help in your goal setting process let me know. I have a work sheet that can help with all the steps of goal setting and action plans. Please let me know if you would like a copy. You can always contact me at personalskillscoaching@gmail.com
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