How to Write SMART Goals and Make SMART New Year’s Resolutions

A SMART goal and New Year’s Resolution is one that is:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely
 

Specific
Decide in advance exactly what you want to accomplish. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to do? How am I going to do it? What am I assuming is true? What if my assumptions are not true? What is Plan B?”

Measurable
Incorporate specific ways and dates to measure your achievements. Measuring your progress will help you stay on track and give you a sense of satisfaction when you hit a milestone. The feeling of success will also help you stay motivated.

Attainable
How can you make your dreams come true? Achieving your goal might require baby steps. You might have to start by simply developing the skills, abilities, and financials to reach your goal, and that is a goal in itself. Break a big goal into bite-size pieces to make your resolution more attainable. Also prioritize your goals or multiple parts of a large goal to make it more attainable.

Realistic
Be in control. Make your goals doable, but not easy. Achieving goals requires personal effort and change. Are you willing to make an effort and tolerate the changes that will take place as a result? You will only achieve results with your own enthusiastic agreement that the effort and change required are necessary and important to reach your goal.

Timely
The timing of your goal must be all of the above: specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic. Set a specific date you would like to reach your goal, and also dates to check your progress. Be realistic to give yourself the best chances to achieve your goal.
 

Now… Get started! 
Brainstorm. Don’t worry about the SMART principals and write down whatever goals for yourself that come to mind. Prioritize the goals in order of what is most important to you. Apply the SMART goal principals and make the goals you select for yourself specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

Print or write copies of the SMART goals and carry it in your purse or wallet at all times. Post it around the house, office, cubical, car, or wherever it needs to be so you are constantly reminded of your objectives.

Check your progress at the specific, realistic dates you incorporated in your goal. If you are not progressing like you had planned, make changes asap! What’s Plan B? How can you make your dreams come true?

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