What are they?
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Setting large, unattainable goals makes them harder to achieve and can be quite demotivating if we do not achieve them
Why are they useful?
Breaking larger goals (e.g. lose weight, eat healthier, exercise more etc) into smaller goals can help you make your goals more motivating and achievable. Making realistic, attainable goals that have set deadlines can increase the likelihood that you will achieve your goals in a timely manner. Deadlines are also useful, as they allow you to check in with your progress and amend your goals, if things are not going quite to plan.
How are they useful?
The process of creating SMART goals is really important, as it sets out a plan to help you achieve your goals. Having a plan in place is what is going to help you move forward and is what is going to help you get the results that you are after!
Think about one goal you would like to achieve in the following three areas: fitness, nutrition and well-being.
EXAMPLE GOALS:
NUTRITION:
“I would like to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day by two weeks times”. “I would like to eat 3-4 servings of fruits/vegetables per day three times per week by four weeks time”.
FITNESS:
“I would like to be able to run for 20 minutes without stopping by three weeks time”. “I would like to walk for 30 minutes four times per week by four weeks time”.
WELLBEING:
“I would like to meditate for 5 minutes three times per week for the next two weeks”. “I would like to spend one evening per week catching up with a friend, either over the phone or in person, by the end of the month”.
Things to consider:
How will I keep track of my progress?
Will I need any help from someone to achieve my goal?
What barriers/obstacles do I envisage I will face when trying to achieve my goals?
How will I overcome these barriers to make sure that I stick on track?
Download the PDF below and use this to make sure that the three goals you have identified are SMART.