Written by Jenifer Chrisman on December 29, 2014.
Another year has come and it’s going, going…almost gone. For many that means coming up with a New Year’s resolution or dusting off an old one tried in previous years and not successfully completed.
According to Statistic Brain (statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/), only eight percent of people who made New Year’s resolutions in 2013 successfully achieved their goal. While this statistic might seem harsh, failure to successfully achieve resolutions may have more to do with planning than anything else.
Peter Drucker, the man who invented management theory, created the mnemonic acronym S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound. Used to create criteria to guide in the setting of objectives for businesses, it wasn’t long before people saw the value of using it to set many other kinds of goals and objectives, whether business related or personal.
So how does S.M.A.R.T. help you decide on and stick to a resolution?
Specific determines the goal or objective you want to achieve. The most common goals are:
• Lose Weight
• Get Organized
• Spend Less, Save More/Get Out of Debt
• Enjoy Life More
• Get Healthy
• Learn Something New/Go Back to School
• Quit Smoking
• Help Others
• Fall in Love
• Spend Time with Family/Start a Family
Measurable asks you how much/often/many. If, for example, you are trying to lose weight, what is your goal? 10 pounds? 50? It also asks what your progress points should be and at what point you should achieve those markers. Setting progress markers is very important, not just as a way to keep track of your progress but to give yourself pat on the back for a job well done as you reach each of them. There are few better motivators than the opportunities you take to remind yourself you have worked hard and that hard work is paying off.
Achievable asks you to question whether it is possible to achieve your goal by realistically assessing what you want to achieve. If you are trying to lose weight are your expectations realistic? Gaining weight takes time. Therefore losing it will take time as well. On average, safely losing weight averages about one to two pounds a week. Do you want to try for five a week? Will that be healthy for your body? Will you be able to lose that much weight per week and sustain that loss over a period of time? Is your diet choice a healthy one? Are you going to be dieting, exercising or dieting and exercising? If you are exercising are you taking into consideration that muscle weighs more than fat and your weight will likely stay the same or increase rather than decrease for a while?
Once you know what the achievable options are, you can sort them into their Relevant components. If you know you will be dieting and exercising then you know we likely won’t show any actual weight loss (on a scale) for a while. As you’ve also checked to make sure the diet you plan on using is not a fad, you know you will not only lose weight but stay healthy while being on it. And like Measurable, you need to have times where (instead of celebrating) you can slack occasionally. These little treats will help keep your weight loss regimen from turning into a grind. After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Lastly, Time-Bound sets the parameters of when you wish to complete your goal or objective. Not all goals are a year-long journey. If you are only trying to lose 10 pounds you may only need three months or so. If there is a class you have been meaning to take it may only be a semester. But if you want to learn to speak Spanish fluently (especially if you don’t speak any Spanish) you may be looking at several years before you reach your goal.
With each New Year there is always a desire to be out with the old and in with a “new you,” and your biggest impediment is unreasonable expectations. Your resolutions don’t need to be a burden. Celebrate the little victories and plan for those little slacker moments. They will help you keep on track and balanced.
So this year, instead of just making a resolution, make a S.M.A.R.T. Resolution and be a S.M.A.R.T.er “new you.”
