We’ve all tried to make a shiny New Years resolution. And we’ve all pretty much failed at it.
Losing weight and saving money are great resolutions for the New Year, but why do they never stick? What happens to, “New Year, new you?” Well for one, having a bad foundation for your resolution can be dreadful. Also, having unfocused goals is a recipe for disaster.
Yes, making a New Year’s resolution can be hard, but it can be simpler if you use S.M.A.R.T. goals. The concept was first coined in November of 1981 in Spokane, Washington by George T. Doran at the Director of Corporate Planning for Washington Water Power Company. Each letter of the acronym stands for a factor in making goals that are actually attainable. These tips should help your New Year’s resolution last all the way through 2019!
Smart
When creating a resolution, make sure to specify exactly what you want to do and how you plan to do it. This may take a bit of deeper thinking than just saying, “I want to read more next year.” Make a step-by-step process for how you want to plan, execute, and ultimately achieve your goal. This makes sure that nothing is unaccounted for, and that if an unexpected problem comes up, you’ve already thought about it.
Measurable
Whatever you plan to do next year, it’s always good to research tips and tricks for attaining your goal before setting it up. If you want to lose weight, do it in time intervals. If you want to start saving money, get to a certain amount each month. Make sure that for every resolution you make, their are targets to help you along the way.
Achievable
While resolutions can be fun, it’s important to make them reasonable. Anything is possible, but I doubt you’ll be able to become an astronaut in only a years’ time. Think of something that you can personally achieve in the course of one year. Also, be prepared to not achieve your goal; things happen, and it’s okay if you somehow get behind on your targets.
Relevant
You aren’t making a New Year’s resolution for anyone else; you should be making it for you. Make your goal matter to you by specifying things that you want to see change in the next year. Additionally, this also means don’t randomly pick a goal because everyone else is doing it. If the goal is irrelevant, then it certainly won’t get done.
Timely
The purpose of a New Year’s resolution is to get it done in the next year. This is why targets are super helpful; they can help with timing. Set up precise objectives at the end of each week, month, or season, and keep up with your goal with these marks. Plus, by making marks within the time zone, you’ll only motivate yourself to move forward. While it’s important to be timely, don’t let your markers rush you or slow you down; do whatever makes you comfortable.
Anyone can make a New Year’s resolution, as long as you stick to S.M.A.R.T. To put it simply, before you put your resolution into effect, make sure it’s specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. It may take lots of time and planning, but it’ll ultimately pay off!
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