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SMART Goals
According to a recent poll* only 8% of those people will fulfil their New Year's resolution. Appraoching the halfway point of the calendar year, where do you stand?
Rather than think, “How COULD I have been part of that 8%,” I would like to think on how we can re-frame for the next goal, and make sure we achieve the next opportunity to improve.
The way to do that it simple, labor intensive - sure, but relatively simple. We simply need to make sure we are making SMART goals. Smart meaning:
S - Specific
M - Measureable
A - Attainable
R- Relevant
T - Timely
It’s easy to make a goal. It is vital to put this method into place in order to achieve success. Think about the last goal you set for yourself. Why did you achieve this goal? You more than likely put it into this formal without even realizing it.
Lets think about “S,” Specific. It’s easy to make a general goal. Two of the most common New Year’s Resolutions are to “Lose weight,” and “Get organized;” but what does that really mean? Losing weight could range from one to one hundred pounds. In order for that goal to be specific you’d have to set a number to it, for example, My New Year’s Resolution is to lose 25 pounds.
This leads us to the “M,” Measurable. This goal of losing 25 pounds can be measured by weighing yourself on a scale. You want to be sure that with what ever goal you have, you are able to measure your progress. This task could be accomplished with something as simple as a completing a daily checklist.
Next, we need to make sure that we are working toward an attainable goal. Almost any goal can be accomplished if it is reasonable. For example, at Revolution we help patients work toward their weight loss goals by setting small attainable goals of losing one to two pounds a week. An unattainable goal would be setting a goal of losing 10 pounds a week. The last thing you want to do is feel like you “failed,” because you set an unattainable goal.
When we set a goal we want to be focused on bettering ourselves. You could set a goal to learn arabic, but if you never plan to put yourself in a situation to put it to use, is it really work putting your time and energy into that goal. You should be sure to set a goal that is relevant to who you are and who you want to become.
Finally, we have arrived at the “T,” timely. In order for a goal to be successful in achieving your goals, it must have a deadline. It’s vital to have that push to get you into the end zone. Losing 25 pounds in a year is a much different process than losing it in 4 months. You have to put a timeframe on it in order to get the results your desire and the satisfaction you deserve.
If your goal happens to be weight loss, recent guidelines released by the American Medical Association suggests consulting with a team of health professionals before you do so. At Revolution, you will work with a highly qualified group of passionate health professionals to do just that, reach your weight loss goals.
*Statisticbrain.com. N.p., 1 Jan. 2017. Web.
