How to Make Goals and Keep Them!

January is synonymous with goals and resolutions. Seems as soon as the food is cleared from the dinner table on Christmas, people start contemplating what their New Year’s resolution is going to be. All of a sudden the gym is over-crowded, Starbucks is painted with self-help books, and all of your friends are trying to sign you up for their new commitments.

It baffles the mind that most people choose one time of year to assess their lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, you have to start at some point, but come April those goals are on a pizza stained paper at the bottom of your closet next to your running shoes that never got broken in. People wonder why their goals never materialize and come next year they have the same objectives. It’s not that their hearts aren’t in the right place; it’s simply that their goals lack a plan of action!

Goals help to create purpose, energy, focus, and motivation. By reflecting on your lifestyle and considering changes that need to be made, you will take control of your life and feel productive and organized. The first step in goal-setting is to look at it not as a burden, but as an opportunity to mend your Achilles’ heel. For goals to be successful they must be SMART - Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based. The first factor of this equation is the most crucial. Without specific goals, you will have no bridge to get you to your objective. If your resolution is to simply lose weight, there will be no way to gauge if you are staying on track. However, if your goal is to exercise three times a week for an hour, then you would be able to better evaluate your progress and you would have an actual plan to move you towards your goal! If an objective is not measurable then it will be that much harder to manage. For example, instead of saying “I want to lower my cholesterol next year,” say “I want to lower my cholesterol by three points within five months.” You won’t know if you’re on track or if you’re nearing completion if you don’t use specific quantities. If you identify what goals are most important, you will begin to figure out ways to make them attainable. Soon you will develop the attitude, ability and skills to achieve these goals. To be realistic, a resolution must be something you are both willing and able to work at. Realistic should not be confused with “easy;” set the bar high so that your achievement will be satisfying. Of course these shouldn’t be so unattainable that you have to consider a visit to the Wizard of Oz to reach them. Time-based goals are necessary for creating a sense of urgency. When establishing a timeframe be sure that it is measureable, attainable and, most importantly, realistic. For instance, saying that you hope to lose 10 pounds someday will not push you towards achieving it. However, if you state that you want to lose 10 pounds by May 1st, you will put more effort into meeting that deadline.

Self-improvement is necessary throughout the year in order for change to be permanent. Most people fail with resolutions and goals because they don’t keep up with them. A good way to keep on top of it is to schedule goal assessments in advance. Make appointments with yourself once a month or every couple of months to reflect on your progress. If you need more encouragement than that, try reviewing your plan daily. With your goals fresh in mind, you will reinforce what you want to accomplish, keeping yourself constantly motivated.

Goals guide us on where to direct our energy; goals with a clear action plan give us a sense of direction and purpose. Included below is a link to assist you in creating your own goal plan. This year let your goal be to stick to your goals!