This new year, don’t just set goals, set SMART goals!

The acrostic SMART is a tool that many have used to help them reach their goals.

Specific

“I want to eat healthier.” “I want to exercise more.” These are not specific goals!  Vagueness is the enemy of progress. It has been said…

“If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.”

Measurable

Having a measure will let you know if you actually achieved your goal. A measurable goal for eating would be to not eat dessert. A measurable goal for exercise would be 20 minutes twice a week. You know if you did it or not.

A goal without a way of measuring it will not produce the results you want.

Attainable

If you make your goals too big you will ultimately fail and get discouraged. Nothing stops positive momentum more than unattainable and unrealistic goals.

Set a goal that stretches you but also is something you can actually picture doing. This is why many diets don’t work. People don’t build goals with the fact that life is unpredictable into their system. The result is they fall of the wagon and they fall hard!

An attainable goal is a goal that can fit into your life now with out totally rearranging your schedual!

Relevant

Don’t set goals about things that don’t fit with your primary mission.  What we say no to impacts us just as much as what we say yes to. Part of keeping the goals that are important to us is learning to say no to good things so that we can say yes to the best things.

Time-Based

Time is your best friend in goal setting. If you set a goal for a limited time you will be able to look back and see your progress. For example, last year I set a goal of blogging everyday through the New Testament. When I was finished with the year I knew I was finished with my goal!

What are some of your goals for 2015?

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