Setting goals

A new year brings inspiration to set and achieve new goals. But have you wondered why you start off the year with firm resolutions to create a new habit, or achieve something, yet they fade away come February or March? Perhaps you’ve blamed yourself for lacking discipline and given up on your resolutions?

Rest assured, it is not you, or your goals, that are the issue. It may just be the process that you’re using to set them.

The success of resolutions or goals largely depends on how they are set. First, let’s explore the difference between a resolution and a goal. A resolution is a desired outcome that will require some willpower to achieve. When we set a resolution, we are unconsciously telling ourselves that we will require strength as it will be difficult to achieve.

What if we could set the same target, but with a more optimistic approach? Wouldn’t it be easier to work on? It’s always more fun to do something we are looking forward to. A goal, as opposed to a resolution, is a desired outcome that we are looking forward to achieving. A goal and a resolution are actually the same thing, but set up in completely different ways.

So now that we know that it’s more productive to set a goal rather than a resolution, how do we ensure our success? Do we just intend for something and put all our energies into it? Instead, planning the goal the right way can make the difference between success and failure. For example, if person A sets a goal to ‘lose weight’ and person B sets a goal to be ‘10 pounds lighter by 10th March, 2020’ chances are that person B will have far more success as it has been set as a SMART goal.

So, if you are thinking about what you want to achieve in 2020, then take some time out to set up SMART goals for your desired outcomes. Now, let’s talk about what this process entails. Begin with keeping your list of desired goals in front of you as you work through this process.

S is for ‘Specific’. Think about your desired goal, and state it in one specific statement. Note that the statement should be in the ‘positive’. For example, if your goal is: I don’t want to smoke anymore, then ask yourself what you would be doing instead. State your goal as ‘I want to be smoke free’ instead of what you don’t want.

M is for ‘Measurable’. Take your positive statement, and add something that you can actually measure – for example: ‘I want 5 new clients on my books’. Being able to measure our progress is key to our success. Without this, it is very easy to lose sight of what we are working on.

A is for ‘Achievable’. An achievable goal is one where the required resources are available to us. Resources include skills, capabilities, money etc. A simple example is baking a cake. You can only put the cake together if you have the ingredients at hand. Reflect on your goal(s) and do the following checks: what resources do I need to achieve this goal? Do I have them? If not, how may I acquire them? And, who can help me?

R is for ‘Realistic’. People often confuse realistic and achievable. Think of achievable as referring to skills, and think of realistic as referring to lifestyle. Do you have the required time you need? Do you have an environment that’s conducive? Ask yourself the following questions: can I carve out the time that’s required? Do I really want to? What are my current responsibilities? What will I need to give up in order to focus on this goal? Is it worth it to me?

We may overlook our responsibilities in the initial excitement, but everyday demands can make our goals feel like a chore. Adjust your goals to fit into your lifestyle with ease.

T is for ‘Timed’. Add a time line to your goal, so you know by when you want to achieve it. This will keep you accountable towards your own progress.

All the best with setting empowering goals. Wishing you a happy and productive year ahead.

The writer is a life coach, NLP master and author.