This month’s blog is about SMARTER goal-setting strategy which is key to behaviour change and health improvement.
How often do you reach your goals?
If the answer is ‘not very often’, you may need to revisit your goal-setting strategy.
Whether you want to see improvements in your health and fitness, or better relationships, the change you want is unlikely to happen without a clear set of goals. Knowing what you want is just the first step – knowing how to get there is as – if not MORE – important.
So how do you set goals that lead to success? You might already have heard about SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals. Making your goals SMARTER is even better (and a lot more fun). This means:
Exciting
The goal must be enticing and inspiring. Does the thought of the goal excite you? Many people pursue goals because they feel they ‘must’, ‘should’, or because others want them to, rather than because they truly want to achieve the goal. Make sure your goal energises you and is personally motivating. Focus on what will be possible for you when you reach your goal. How will it really feel when you achieve what you set out to do? I want you to get really fired up by your goal!
Rewarded
The goal must offer a clear reward. This can be an extrinsic reward (something tangible such as money, awards, savings, or prizes), or intrinsic (joy, happiness, mastering a skill, or satisfaction of a job well done). If you aren’t getting some benefit or reward for reaching your goal, your motivation is likely to dip. How will you reward yourself? What will feel like a real win? Remember, since we’re in the world of wellness, I’m not talking about having a big blow-out at the end of a diet but something more nourishing of the soul…
You can complete the following statements/questions to help you set your goals:
- My goal is…
- It is clear and specific in the following way…
- How will I know if I’ve achieved it? I can measure success in the following way…
- My goal is realistic because…
- What are my time frames? By when will I have achieved this goal?
- What is exciting about this goal? What inspires me?
- What are the rewards? How will this benefit me and my life when I have achieved it?
