Resolution: the act of deciding on a course of action.
Setting goals for the new year? Be SMART!
Resolution: the act of deciding on a course of action.
We all love to make resolutions when January 1st rolls around. Lose weight, stop smoking, spend more time with the family, etc. But did you know that ⅓ of resolutions only last for one month? So how can you make realistic resolutions that stick?
You may be making the wrong resolution! And it may be wrong for the following reasons:
- It’s not well-defined and clear.
- It’s based on what other people (or society) expect or want you to change
- You don’t have a realistic plan to get to where you want to go
You’ve probably heard of the SMART process for setting goals in professional settings. Did you know that it also works for your personal life?
Be Specific: Don’t just say “I want to lose weight.” Be concrete! It’s better to say, “I want to lose 10 kilos in 3 months.” Real goals are more effective and it’s easier to measure your progress, so your motivation doesn’t decline.
Make it Measurable: This is easy when talking about weight or exercise time, but what about things that can’t be measured with numbers? If you want to spend more time with your children, make a list of activities you can do together, and keep a journal – with photos – of what you’ve done together, even if it’s just doing a puzzle together.
Make them Achievable: If your initial goal seems huge, break it down into bite-size pieces. If you don’t, you may feel frustrated and your motivation and spirit will be affected. Do you want to save money to go on that dream cruise? Instead of focusing on the total cost of the trip, concentrate on saving a specific amount of money each month in a special account.
Make it Relevant: Is the goal really for you or are you doing it to please others? Setting a resolution in a moment of self-doubt or passion (“Next year I’ll run a marathon!”) will probably lead to failure. Think about what YOU want, what’s good for YOU, what matters to YOU, and how YOU’LL feel when you achieve it.
Give yourself Time: Be realistic about how long it will take you to reach your goal, and how much time you’ll need for the smaller intermediate objectives. To build a habit, you need time, and that means months, not weeks. Be patient!
And if one of your goals is upgrading your English, then you’ve come to the right place. At English Square, we’ve got the right people to help you. Ask for your free consultation today.
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