It’s easy to have goals. It’s typically much harder to actually achieve them. When setting goals, we want to ensure that we are setting ourselves up for success at the same time. This is where S.M.A.R.T. goals can come in.
S – Specific – What are you trying to achieve? Is this goal well-defined? How will you accomplish it? Who will be accountable for taking the necessary steps?
M – Measurable – How will you determine whether this goal is being met? Can it be measured and tracked in a quantifiable manner so that you know when you have reached your goal?
A – Achievable – Is this truly a realistic goal? Or too large a step to accomplish at this time and needing to be broken down into multiple smaller pieces, over a different time frame? What roadblocks might interfere with reaching this goal, and how can they be overcome?
R – Relevant – Why is this goal important to me? Will you get value out of putting in the work?
T – Time-based – How much time will you give yourself to meet this goal? This establishes accountability and with time frames in place, we are much more likely to follow through!
Example of a non-S.M.A.R.T. goal:
I will meditate every single day.
Here’s how this goal was modified into a S.M.A.R.T. goal:
I will meditate for 15 minutes per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, in the morning after I drop my kids at school, using the Daily Meditation track on the InsightTimer App. This will help me focus myself for the day.
Specific: 15 minutes per day for 4 days via an app.
Measurable: Did meditation occur on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday?
Achievable: 15 minutes per day in a designated time slot on specific days is achievable. I anticipate that spending time on social media or responding to emails can interfere with the 15 minute block, so I will not go to other areas of my phone until after meditating.
Relevant: I can see how following through with this goal will benefit me: I will feel calmer heading into my day, and more productive throughout the rest of the day. I will be more present for my patients, my family, and myself.
Time-based: The goal will be evaluated at the end of the week.
By creating a S.M.A.R.T. goal, you can set yourself up for success!
Create your own S.M.A.R.T. goal:
| What do you want to achieve? | |
| Now make it… Specific: | |
| Measurable: | |
| Achievable: | |
| Relevant: | |
| Time-based: | |
| Transformed into a S.M.A.R.T goal: |
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© Purpose Inc., The School of Applied Functional MedicineTM
