Setting SMART Goals For the New Year

With the new year starting, now is the perfect time to set goals. Setting a SMART goal will help you achieve your goals more effectively and efficiently.  

Let’s start with an example—let’s say that your goal for 2021 is to be healthier. That’s a great outcome and mindset to have, but how will you do it? What steps will you take? Here are some guidelines to hold yourself accountable and to help you follow through with your goal: 

Specific - Be as specific as possible when setting a goal. Instead of saying you want to be healthier, be specific and say exactly how you want to be healthier. A more specific goal would be you want to lose weight by exercising, controlling portions sizes, and reducing sugar in your diet.   

Measurable - A goal should be something you could see quantifiable progress to. Measuring results can help you adjust your goals if needed. How much weight do you want to lose? If your goal is to lose 20 pounds over the course of a few months, you could measure progress by using a scale. 

Attainable - Break larger goals into smaller goals so they are easier to reach. Goals should be ambitious, but not impossible to achieve. Your goal should not be to lose 20 pounds within one week because that is unhealthy and hard to do.  

Relevant - Pick steps that are right to you when attaining your goal. Find an exercise plan that you enjoy. Eat healthy foods that you like, don’t eat foods just because they will give you results.  

Time-Based - Set a reasonable time frame that you will complete your goal by. Setting your goal as losing 2 pounds every week for 10 weeks is realistic and will be more motivating