A SMARTer Approach to Your Resolutions
Are you already struggling with implementing your resolutions for this year? You’re not alone. We all set New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of the year with high hopes, but shortly fall off once the excitement and New Year’s motivation wears off. This year, try rewriting your resolutions with the SMART Goal model to set realistic, achievable goals.
What are SMART goals?
SMART goals help us turn our ideas into action. Setting SMART goals keeps your progress moving forward and helps with accountability and timing. With SMART goals, you know that you are accomplishing what you set out to do.
A SMART goal is:
Specific: a clearly identified end goal that you can measure whether you have achieved or not
Measurable: a tangible goal that you can track progress to ensure you achieve
Achievable: a goal that you can complete, but that also pushes you to improve; it cannot be too easy or too hard
Relevant: the short-term goal must help you complete your relevant long-term goal
Time-bound: a specific deadline is needed to mark progress and completion of the smart goal
SMART Goals Template. There are two examples of NOT SMART Goals: 1. I want to study abroad. 2. I want to get a promotion. Next to them are those goals updated as SMART Goals: 1. I want to study abroad in Spain between my freshman and sophomore year of college. To do this, I will save up half my money from my job during the school year and then apply for 3 scholarships to pay for the other half. 2. I will get promoted to manager by June. In order to do that, I will take the lead on 2 projects, check in with my manager weekly to ensure I am meeting expectations at the next level, and connect with 3 current managers to see how I can further develop my skill set. I will check in monthly with myself to ensure progress towards my goal.
Transform Your Resolutions
Revisit the resolutions you set this year with the SMART goal method. Don’t forget to keep track of your progress, too. Schedule time to check in with yourself monthly to make sure you are making the progress you need to achieve your 2024 goals. With a bit of help from the SMART goal method and the built-in accountability of monthly check-ins, sustain your New Year’s resolutions for the rest of the year.
