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With a new year comes new goals and like most of us I have
set a few. More importantly I have come up with a way to keep my goals and
would like to share them with you.
If you have ever set a New Year’s resolution, then you
already know just how easy it is to break them. It seems to be human nature to
set a goal only to fall short of achieving it. Why do we do this and what can
we do about it? I don’t know the answer to the first part of that question, but
I have some ideas on what we can do about it. The answer to accomplishing your
goals it to use the smart goals matrix – the acronym breaks down to be specific,
measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Using the smart goal method
can help you advance toward achieving any feet you set out to accomplish.
Specific
When you set your goals, be specific. It is important not to
just make vague statements like I am going to lose weight. Instead, try saying
I am going to lose 15 pounds. One of my goals in 2014 is to finish the Mayor’s
Marathon in June and the inaugural Big Wild Life Runs ultra-marathon in August.
My goal is not just to finish them, but to finish each race in less than five
hours.
Measurable
Your goal should be something
that you can measure – if I want to run a sub 5 hour marathon, how will I measure
my progress? You are much more likely to stay on track and achieve your goal
if, you are measuring your progress. I use a mobile app on my phone as well as
participate in several smaller races prior to my big run goals. This allows me
to constantly evaluate how well I am doing. It also is a way to measure where I
can improve.
Attainable
Make sure you are setting realistic goals. Your goals should
be challenging, but doable. The last thing you want to do is set a goal like
losing 100 pounds in three months. When we set unrealistic goals, we give up
and stop trying – that‘s no good. It is so important to make sure you are being
real with yourself – learn from your mistakes. Examine previous goals that you
may not have achieved, but would still like too. Ask yourself if you there isn’t
a smaller step to accomplishing the thing you want and focus on that first.
Relevant
Your goal should matter. Think about why you want to achieve
the goal you set and what relevance it has to your life. If you goal to learn
how to cook escargot, you might want to have a reason for wanting to learn how
to cook snails. Do you, or the people in your life enjoying eating Mollusca? Will
this skill advance your career, will it somehow make you more interesting, or
is this just something you think sounds cool? My running goals are health
driven. I want to be healthier, and lose weight. When I run, I find that I
focus more on my overall heath.
Time-Bound
Time specific goals drive us to finish what we set out to
do. Each one of my goals has a shelf life by which it must be accomplished. Setting
time parameters help you get where you want to go. If you want to lose 50
pounds by the end of the year, you might want to set some additional time
specific goals too. For instance you might want to set a goal like losing 12
pounds every quarter.
Celebrate Your
Victories
I added this last part because I think that it is important.
Over the years I have accomplished some pretty tough personal goals. I know that
I didn’t do them all on my own, but none the less; every little victory is worth
celebrating. When I first started running, I would shout with joy after every
mile and clap my hands for achieving one more mile than I did the day before. I
would do the same at the gym with every 100 calories I burned. Don’t be afraid of
the awkward looks you might get, people get over it quick enough, but the
lasting effects of your achievements will last you a lifetime.
Good luck on achieving your goals in 2014. I wish you all
the best.
