Smart Goal Setting

by Dr. Vesna Grubacevic

If you have ever made new year’s resolutions or set goals and not achieved them, you will benefit from the Smart Goal Setting tips below.

Firstly, think about what you would like to achieve or improve in your life eg. stop smoking, reach your target weight, have more customers, start a new relationship, apply for your ideal job, follow your passion and start your own business. Take a moment now to write this down.

Next, use the SMART principles below to transform your want or resolution into a goal. Below, I have used a weight goal as an example to assist you with your own goals.

Specific and Simple

Make sure that your goal is specific and simple ie. write your goal out in a single sentence, specifically stating what you want. Avoid being vague eg. to reduce weight. Also avoid saying “I want to lose x kilos”. Instead of saying what you want to lose, say what you want to achieve eg. I weigh 70 kgs. People who set goals to lose weight usually put on weight.

Measurable

The only way you will know that you have successfully achieved your goal is if you have a way of measuring it. How will you measure the success of your goal? For example, standing on the scales and seeing the target weight, fitting into smaller size pants or some other way?

As if now

This is really important – make sure that your goal is written in the present tense (eg. I am, I now) rather than the future tense (eg. I will, I want to). Goals which are stated in the future tense never come, they are always in the future. When you visualise your goals you want to make sure that you feel as you have already achieved your goals. This builds your motivation to take action towards your goals.

Realistic

When you set a goal you also want to make sure that it is achievable and realistic. If you set a goal which is unrealistic you are setting yourself up for failure before your begin. While anything is possible if you believe in yourself, you also want to allow yourself enough time to take action on your goal. You also want to ensure that you have the resources and skills (either yourself or get help from those that do) to achieve the goal.

Time frame

Many people state what they want without a time frame eg. one day I will reach my goal weight. This makes it difficult to achieve as your mind needs a target date to work towards. Pick a specific date by when you want to achieve your goal and make sure the date is realistic and safe. For a health goal avoid setting a goal to reduce weight by 10 kilos in one week – this is both unsafe and unsustainable long term.

Your SMART Goal

Keeping in mind all the SMART criteria above, now write out your goal. For example, “ It is 30th June 2017 and I now weigh 70 kilos.” Notice that this goal is specific as to date and weight, it is a simple sentence, it is measurable (eg. standing on the scale), it is in the present tense, and it is realistic.

Finally, make sure that you truly believe in your goal, visualise it being a success and then take action towards it. Once you achieve one goal, set another goal to keep yourself motivated and enjoy celebrating your successes!

If you have any questions about goal setting and goal achievement or need some help with your goals feel free to call me directly on 0411 479 256 or email me and I will be happy to help you.