Goal Setting - How to actually follow through
We’ve all been there. Saying we want to or are going to do something, but never actually do it. We make promises with ourselves that this will be the week we start working out, or this will be the year we learn the piano, but after a few days, a week, or a month, the good intentions slip away. We will often look at other people in our lives and think, “how the hell are they achieving these things??”, or become really down on ourselves saying things like, “they must all be so much more dedicated than me.” These are statements that keep us down and do not help us in making the necessary changes to achieve the goals we want.
In this post, I will break down the most effective way to achieve the goals we have for ourselves. Once you have read it, you will understand how to structure your aspirations to ensure you have a plan of attack. Let’s do this!
The most effective way I have seen people actually achieve the goals they wish for, is by utilizing the acronym “SMART” to structure their goals. These clever “SMART” goals will break down whatever you want to achieve into doable tasks. First let’s breakdown what this means.
S - Specific: Define exactly what you need to accomplish. What is it that you want to accomplish? Is it that you want to start running? If so, let’s get more specific. “I want to run a 5k.” That is much more of a concrete goal that you can identify and build off of.
M - Measurable: Quantify your goals and build in milestones so they're easier to track. If your goal is to run a 5k, this is the step in which you break down how you are going to achieve it. This may mean making a running schedule or downloading a running app to help you track your progress.
A - Achievable: Consider if you have the resources to achieve your goal. We want the goals to be challenging enough to push yourself, but not too challenging where it seems unattainable and too overwhelming. If we continue with the running example, if you are a beginner saying you want to run a marathon may not be attainable at this time. Having a 5k be your first goal will allow you to feel accomplished when you finish it, and give you somewhere to go after you achieve it, such as a new goal of a 10k.
R - Relevant: Consider why you're setting the goal and how it will improve your life or career. Having your goal be relevant to your life is important to increase your motivation in completing it. Maybe you have high blood-pressure and your doctor said you need to increase cardiovascular exercise to prevent having to go on medication. Reminding yourself of this step will help you keep pushing towards your goal.
T - Time-bound: Set a firm schedule and stick to it. Keeping a time-bound goal improves the chance that you will achieve your goal significantly. If you allow yourself to continue to push it back, you will be more likely to set the challenge down and never pick it back up again… potentially leading you to the same spot you may currently be finding yourself in.
By utilizing a “SMART” goal, you will have a significantly higher chance of achieving your goals! I wish you the best of luck in your new goal-achieving era!
Reach out to me, Anika Heaverlo, LPC at Emerge Counseling to help you along your path of self-growth!
