Goal Setting for GrowthLIFESTYLE | MINDFULNESS
By: Autumn Mulgrew
Spring is the season of growth, and what better way to grow than to start setting goals for yourself! Sure, maybe you already came up with some New Year's resolutions, but they probably won’t work unless they are well thought out and goal-oriented. So you might as well forget the resolution you drunkenly made on January 1st and start organizing your intentions by goal-setting.
Make sure your goals are SMARTS - Specific: Make your goals as clear and defined as possible so you know exactly where you want to end up and how to get there.
M - Measurable: Include exact dates, hours, or whatever is it that you are focusing on. It’s hard to know when you are successful if you don’t have a measurable outcome. A - Attainable: Create goals that are actually possible for you to complete! Don’t overshoot and get discouraged when you are unable to reach that goal. However, you don’t want to undershoot either. You don’t get nearly as much satisfaction from reaching a really simple goal as you would from reaching a challenging one. Set attainable goals, not easy ones. R - Relevant: You want your goals to be in line with the direction that you want your life to take. Setting random, sporadic goals will result in an unorganized and scattered lifestyle. T - Time-Bound: Give yourself a hard deadline to reach your goals. A wishy washy timeline makes for a wishy washy goal! More importantly, a deadline means that you know exactly when you can celebrate the completion of your goal. It also helps provide a sense of urgency and prevents procrastination. Write it downMake your goals real and tangible by putting them to paper. The language you use is also important; write that you WILL do something instead of “I’d like to” or “I might.” You should also make sure that you use positive wording such as “I will go to the gym 3 times per week” instead of “I would like to lose weight by the end of the month.” The first statement is a measurable and motivating goal while the second statement only allows for partial success.
While writing your goals down is a great first step, it’s not enough to ensure that you are holding yourself accountable. Put your written goals somewhere you can see them every day like your mirror, refrigerator, desk, or computer screen. Having constant visual reminders of your intentions will help you take action and reach your goals.
And… Action!Once you have your goals set, the next step is to create an action plan. This is a step by step guide, much like an outline for a paper, that will help keep you on track and motivated. Crossing off each step along the way gives you a sense of accomplishment while working toward your ultimate goal. An action plan is especially important for large or long-term goals, but it is necessary for all types of goals. Look up action plan templates on Google or create your own! Goal setting doesn’t have to be a chore, treat it like a fun project and make it whatever it needs to be to fit your lifestyle.
I found this template on Pinterest, and I love how simple it is while still maintaining all of the SMART goal elements. Start with something like this, then build on it as you become more comfortable with setting goals! Once you have your goals set, the next step is to create an action plan. This is a step by step guide, much like an outline for a paper, that will help keep you on track and motivated. Crossing off each step along the way gives you a sense of accomplishment while working toward your ultimate goal. An action plan is especially important for large or long-term goals, but it is necessary for all types of goals. Look up action plan templates on Google or create your own! Goal setting doesn’t have to be a chore, treat it like a fun project and make it whatever it needs to be to fit your lifestyle. I found this template on Pinterest, and I love how simple it is while still maintaining all of the SMART goal elements. Start with something like this, then build on it as you become more comfortable with setting goals! |
FitFlexyFolk Yogi SpotlightAndréanne @yoga.andreanne
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