As the new year approaches, now is a great time to start thinking about your goals for 2021. With everything that is going on in the world right now, it is easy to feel like we are in survival mode, I know I do! But it is important to take some time to think about and set goals for what you want to accomplish and how you are going to achieve those goals.
SMART is a simple acronym to help you breakdown goal setting for yourself.
S-Specific. Be as specific as possible with what you want to achieve. The more focused your goal is, the more you will understand how to achieve it.
M-Measurable. Make sure that your goals are measurable so that you can track your progress along the way. A good measurable goal should address questions like: How much? How many? How will I know when I have achieved the goal?
A-Attainable. Setting goals that you can reasonably accomplish within a certain timeframe will help keep you motivated and focused on your goal.
R-Relevant. Your goals should align with your values, and your long-term goals. Determine why the goal is important to you, how achieving the goal will help you contribute to your long-term goals.
T-Time Bound. What is the timeframe of this goal? End dates for goals are good because they can help you stay focused and prioritize the steps necessary to achieve the goal as well as motivation to keep going.
You’re more likely to reach your goals when you make them SMART, so take the extra 10 minutes to lay a strong foundation and set yourself up for success!
