Setting and breaking down your goals - Setting Up Smart Goals.
Dream big, have goals, go after what you want blah, blah, blah. Easy for you to say you are one of those people. But what does that mean one of “those people”. A go getter, a never gave up-er, a sacrificer? The truth is “those people” just listened to the experts and took the advice. Something you can totally do too. Achieving your goals isn’t a skill reserved for an elite few. It’s having some simple tactics in place to help you never give up.
As always the first step is planning and I don’t just mean picking some random goal out of the air you think you might want. You need to break it down and make it SMART.
Specific
Measure
Achievable
Relevant
Time
Specific
Lose a little weight, eat a little healthier, drink more water, get up earlier. These a goals designed to help you FAIL. Set a specific goal, usually a number. 20% body fat, no carbs 5 days a week, 8 glasses of water a day, get up at 5 am. Struggling to convert your goal? Email me at jessica@thelifestylecoachuk.com
Measurable
I said above “usually a number” because this makes it measurable. You can track your progress and see when you have actually hit your goal. When your goal is based on a feeling, feeling thinner, feeling less tired etc, it’s hard to know what that actually looks like. Number goals are also easier to break down into stages or manageable chunks. For example. you want a body fat percentage of 20%. You currently sit at 30%. You have 10% you want to lose. 1% a month for 10 months, also allows gives you a 2-month buffer to hit your goal by the end of the year.
Achievable
If you are 5ft 2 inches, you won’t magically be 5ft 11 inches by the end of the year. If you currently do no exercise, saying you are going to workout 5 times a week for 3 hours is nearly as unlikely (a say near, because yes people have done it, but this normally requires some CRAZY mindset work, do you want or have time for that?). It’s important to challenge yourself and be optimistic, but I also believe in balance. We have a lot to juggle, so also be realistic and fair to yourself. This might mean adjusting your goal or simply stretching your time frame. You might even find there is a better and more realistic route to your end goal.
Be a realistic optimist.
Relevant
Oh, how many times do I have this discussion with people! STOP LIVING SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE! Setting a goal based on what you perceive to be important in life based on Instagram, should be the new definition of insanity. Stop looking outwards for what is important and start looking inwards. What matters to you and your loved ones.
Time
Set a suitable time frame for the end goal and for each stage. Write it down, stick it on the wall, or your phone background, or give it to an accountability buddy. Find a way, any way, of holding yourself accountable to your time frame. These might be daily, weekly, monthly, yearly stages depending on your goal. You decide/ask an expert. Some things that affect your health are best done slow and steady, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Also factor in how you best create habits. I’m very much an all or nothing kind of girl. An abstainer, not a moderator. Being a non-drinker I can do, only having one every other night, doesn’t work for me.
Whatever your goal, turning it into a SMART goal will massively increase your chances of success. But for an extra kick, why not join our A Healthy Lifestyle Club!
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