Not all goals are created equal. Vague goals are hard to accomplish. Big goals can feel overwhelming. Don’t stress. There’s a proven method to set yourself up for success. SMART goals are effective and achievable. Learn how to create your own.
SMART goals are unique and effective because the process of creating them is much more thoughtful and focused. They have five distinct parts, one for each letter in the acronym SMART.
Let’s look at an example of a goal that passes the SMART test. If your goal is to be more active and stretch every day, a great SMART goal would be:
For the next month, I will add movement to my day and increase my flexibility by doing 10 minutes of stretching before I go to bed every night and track it in my movement journal.
Specific: It defines exactly what you want to accomplish, the timeframe to complete it, and how it uniquely relates to you and your goal of introducing more movement and flexibility into your daily routine.
Measurable: It’s measured in minutes. Use a journal or notebook to log how long you stretch each day. Learn how tracking can help you stay motivated to keep going.
Achievable: An hour of stretching is a big commitment. But 10 minutes is something you can work toward and stick to for the long haul.
Relevant: It pinpoints what you want to achieve. Remember to think about how the goal fits into your lifestyle or how it relates to any other goals you’d like to reach, too.
Time-bound: It has a clear beginning and end date. One month is reasonable and realistic compared to a year or indefinitely.
Remember, your goals don’t need to be life-changing. They just need to make sense for your unique situation. The SMART approach is a surefire way to set goals you can get done.
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