We all have goals, right? I know I do. And there?s nothing quite like the awesome feeling that comes from reaching a goal and finally being able to say, ?I did it!?
Unfortunately, some goals are harder to achieve than others, and these goals are usually the ones that are the most important to us.
?I want to lose weight? is an example of a very common?and important?goal. It?s the goal of all of our transformation clients, as well as many of our Facebook friends. It?s one of the top New Year?s Resolutions every single year.
https://youtu.be/Qz7Jf7sIcxQ
So why is this goal?and others like it?so hard to achieve? The main reason is this type of goal is not a SMART goal. It?s too vague and open-ended. It?s a really nice wish, but the chances of making this wish into a reality are pretty slim.
In order to be considered SMART, a goal must have these five components:
? Specific
? Measurable
? Attainable
? Relevant
? Time-bound
So how does this process work? Let?s change ?I want to lose weight? into a smaller, more focused SMART goal.
Specific: The questions ?how,? ?what,? and ?when? are answered in this step. ?How? will you lose weight? ?What? will you do to lose weight? ?When? will you do it? This is a specific goal that answers all these questions: ?I will lose 6 pounds in 6 weeks. I will accomplish this by consuming 1500 calories per day and by exercising at least 5 minutes 5 days a week.? Now that?s specific! (I can hear you asking, ?Heidi, only 5 minutes a day?? Yes. That?s the type of promise you make to yourself. Stay with me and it will all make sense ?).
Measurable: To achieve a goal you have to be able to regularly measure your progress. Numbers don?t lie, and they can keep you moving in the right direction or help you refocus your efforts. To make this goal measureable, let?s add, ?I will weigh myself every Monday morning and I will record my progress.?
Attainable: A successful goal must be attainable?not too difficult?or you?re setting yourself up for failure from day one. Yes, you could make a goal to exercise 5 days a week for 30 minutes, but let?s be honest: sometimes life gets in the way and the best plans go out the window, and then you feel like a failure. Make your goal attainable?one you can keep every single day?and you?ll be well on your way to success. You?ll love those daily feelings of accomplishment so much that you might even do more than you?ve promised yourself you?d do (like exercising more than 5 minutes a day)!
Relevant: Make sure your SMART goal is important enough that you?ll want to make the necessary changes and sacrifices to achieve it. Like Chris says, ?Make sure that for you, the juice is worth the squeeze!? (He?s handsome, brilliant and witty!)
Time-bound: A SMART goal must have a time limit so you won?t get sidetracked and not accomplish your goal. A 6-week limit makes this goal time-bound.
Another important aspect of SMART Goals is how they’re stated. You don’t say “I want to,” or “I’ll try”; you say, “I will.” Something as simple as stating “I will” commits you to reaching that goal. It gets rid of the wiggle room.
Once you achieve your first SMART goal, you?ll be ready to set and reach another one, and then another one, and so on until you reach your ultimate goal.
There?s no stopping you now!
xo,
Heidi
Related reading:
Reignite Your Fire to Achieve Your Goals!
The Procrastinator?s Guide to Transforming Your Time Management Skills
12 Lessons Failure Taught Me
Just say NO! My Less Is More Resolution
5 Life Lessons from a Boss Babe
30 Responses
Each day I do a self check on what my goal is for today, for how long and what exercise will I do and remind myself that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. Layout my meal prep for the day.
My price of admission:
Am I ready for the day
Is the day ready for me
What’s the worse thing that can happen and how can I prevent it.
Because I matter and everyday is a new day.
I love this thinking on how to achieve my goals. My goal is to start slow and exercise three times a week and not make up excuses as to why I can’t. Thank you for your tips!
30 day, 300 minutes (exercise), 3000 steps a day, lose 3″
Just be able to walk and course… my goal 5 km to the end of summer…..
I will start small by walking or taking the steps 5 min per day 5 times per week for the next 4 weeks beginning Monday 3/27. I will weigh myself once a week to check progress and would really love to have the transient app and rebook shoes to kick this off
I Will workout 5 rimes ? week by following my running program, eat 1700 calories a day and eat only 1 chocolat bar ? week as a treat! Loose 2 pounds ? week for 10 weeks and for the end running my 10k race with Joy regardless of my time! I Will remember my smart every day and Take action to follow it! Il home that the app Will help me to be SMART!
I love the idea of smart, I too have made goals that appear to be realistic but then I fail to consider what could get in the way. I then beat myself up for under achieving. Who does exercise for 5 minutes? Once you get moving the endorphins kick in and you feel wonderful…., or if you are feeling out of sorts you got off your butt and achieved what you set out to do, those little 5 minutes! Thanks for this Chris & Heidi, you are empowering me to take control x
Love this idea of SMART. Makes goals less daunting or immense but achievable. Ready to get started x
I absolutely love this! I am guilty of setting goals that aren’t SMART and have failed each time. When I didn’t achieve my goal is would rebound and wallow in my on disgrace and disgust. I honestly never thought about goals like this. Even when asked by potential employers “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I knew what I wanted but have never made SMART goals to achieve them. This is so simple and so true but was never clear until now. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this. I WILL make SMART goals and stick to them and for once experience joy and excitement when I reach them!
I believe that my goals are good:
I love working out and reaching my step goal on my fitbit tracker. I believe that it is a big goal even in the summer heat.