Replace New Year’s Resolutions With Smart Goals

Here’s why I replaced my New Year’s resolutions with Smart Goals

As each year comes to a close we tend to look back at our achievements and, perhaps at what we could have done better.  After a meal during our New Year’s Eve dinner last year, I heard the crowd at my place sharing their new year’s resolutions with one another.  These were most likely thought of in the spur of the moment.  Not me, as I dropped that idea a couple of years back, mostly due to the fact that in my experience, they simply didn’t work.  So now I just tackle the new year head on, by creating ‘Smart Goals’ for myself that I learnt while studying for my counselling diploma at aifc.

What are Smart Goals?

Smart goals help to guide our actions by mapping out steps for reaching our objectives in a more detailed and intelligent way.  By using smart goals, we also can get a clear bird’s eye view of the big picture, for helping us to realise if our goal is achievable before committing to a plan that might, or might not work. If the vision is achievable, smart goals provide a clear road to take for reaching our desired objective.

Smart goals also help us to make informed decisions by leaving nothing to chance.  Basically smart goals are a serious plan of action we can control, with a reward at the end.

Smart Goals Made Easy

1. Specific -What can be accomplished and what actions will you take to get there?
2. Measurable – What data will be used to measure the goal? Eg. Numbers etc.
3. Achievable – Is your goal doable? What skills and resources do you have at your disposal?
4. Realistic or Relevant – Why is the result important to you and how does this fit in with your other goals?
5. Timely – What is the deadline for accomplishing this goal or what is the time frame to make it doable?

How Did Smart Goals Help Me?

By having mapped out the process, I know that my goals aren’t just going to be a gamble or be confusing in the long run. Mapping out the whole process for reaching realistic targets has helped me to have more control. This process gets my mind and my heart involved in actively seeking out positive change for my life.

Last year was a massive growth period for me due to having set some realistic smart goals for myself.

I joined a gym full of lovely women who have fitness goals, and who also encourage me on my fitness journey. As a result I’m in a new social group and have made some new friends.  The workouts happen on a regular basis and I’ve taken a proactive approach to getting more nutrition out of my food, by eating more vegetables and by cutting down on my carbohydrate and sugar intake.

Try something different in the new year for promoting your personal and spiritual growth by creating some smart goals for yourself. 

Sandra Ciminelli
Cred. Dip.Couns. (Spiritual)