We’re just a few days into the New Year and resolutions are being broken. Let’s face it, in most cases the resolutions that we do make are not realistic, we make resolutions that appeal to our heart and mind, but we forget that we have to stick to them. It’s not too late, you can still learn to be SMART about your New Year Resolutions and start afresh.
For those who do not know the acronym for SMART is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic or Relevant and Time-bound. Some of the most common resolutions flying around are losing weight, getting into shape, saving money or quitting smoking. In 90% of the cases the fire in the belly is lost three days in to the New Year. So, how do you stick to this fire? Do you stop making resolutions? No, you simply make resolutions that are SMART. When you are an athlete and you make resolutions, you have to know that the dedication toward achieving your goals can help you in your game as well, especially when the resolution is directly related to performance.
The first step towards goal setting and eventual goal achievement is writing your goals down. When you write your goals down, they become real and not just something that you have been thinking about. Writing it down in big block letters and placing it somewhere where you can constantly be reminded of it is a good idea. Next, put down the steps that you plan to use to achieve your goal. When you know exactly how your goals are going to be achieved, you are going to feel less stressed.
Specific?
Do not write down goals like ‘I want to lose weight’ or ‘I want to become more healthy’ or ‘I want to better my performance’. These statements do nothing. Instead they are only going to make you lose motivation faster. Be specific, how much weight do you want to lose and in how much time, what efforts do you want to make to get healthier, you wish to eat healthy? Or do you wish to stop smoking or do you wish to exercise more? If you wish to better your performance, figure out what your current stats are and set a new goal. Being focused and specific will help you set down processes that will help in achievement of your goal.
Measurable?
Have you ever watched a match where they do not keep the score, it’s the same when you do not have a goal that can be measured. When you have a goal and it can be measured, achieving it becomes easier. Tracking progress is important so find a way to attach numbers towards your goal achievement.
Achievable?
More often than not people set goals that are far from their reach. You have to set a goal that can be achieved, before you put pen to paper and write down your goal, ask yourself a few times, is it achievable?
Realistic?
Make sure that your goal is realistic. You do not want to set goals that cannot be achieved as it will only get you disappointed. For example losing 10 pounds in a week is physically impossible, improving your performance from 3 laps in 5 minutes to 8 laps in 5 minutes too is a little far fetched. Be honest with yourself and set a goal that can be achieved by you.
Time-Bound?
When your goal is time-bound, you are likely to stay motivated in achieving your goal.
So, if you are wondering what a SMART goal should look like, read on.
I wish to lose 30 pounds in the next 6 months, and my goal is to achieve this by losing at least 1 -2 pounds every week. I will do this by walking for at least an hour everyday and by following a diet that comprises of fruits and vegetables.
There you have it, following up on your goal is not difficult, and you have to have a strong mind though. You could also speak with a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and he would help you put a diet plan in place for your goal achievement. Homeopathy too can help you accelerate your goal achievement.
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