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No matter how good you are at something, there is always room for improvement. Wanting something is one thing, but as millions of broken New Year's resolutions show every year, setting a goal is much easier than meeting that goal. A good goal is SMART: specific, measurable, action-focused, realistic and time-bound:
- A goal should be as specific as possible. If your broad goal is to lose weight and you lose 2 ounces, you've technically met your goal. A good goal, on the other hand, would be to lose 5 kilos (or 10 pounds) in the next three months.
- Measurable goals are best, because it's apparent if you're making progress toward meeting your goal.
- Action-focused goals require an action on the part of the goal setter. For fitness goals, a personal readiness device or a health application can be a great aid in reminding you of the actions you need to take.
- Good goals are realistic. A smart goal setter needs to make an honest assessment of how much improvement is possible in a given period of time and base the goal on that assessment. As the old adage goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Trying to do too much too quickly can be just as detrimental as doing nothing.
- Lastly, a SMART goal is time-bound. When setting a goal, you need a deadline to reach it.
Reference:
Cook, L. (2013, 22 November). Change your life with SMART goals! [Excerpt]. Retrieved 19 November 2020 from https://www.army.mil
Tags
Personal Growth