Goal Setting. Be SMART

Goal setting is at the center of any good plan. Regardless of the arena, setting objectives and giving specific metrics to reach or aim for are paramount to your success. Never are they more important than when the idea involves something new. Be it a habit, single action, repeated event, actionable steps are required.

SMART goals are my go-to whenever helping someone to develop a plan or when I do so myself.

S - Specific

M - Measureable

A - Attainable

R - Realistic

T - Time Sensitive

Specific is giving the goal as much detail as possible. Having a clear and objective picture makes success and failure a very fine line in the sand.

Measureable is giving the details of your plan metrics that can be compared to the end result.

Attainable indicates a goal that is within your capability. We want to stretch so progress and change is achieved, but not so much that failure is the most likely outcome.

Realistic is being honest with yourself and planning for what you are capable of doing as well as what you know you can implement. Rating your ability on a 1-10 scale is a good way to determine if it is a sensible decision.

Time Sensitive indicates the time frame we give ourselves in order to achieve said goal.

Short term as well as long term goals are appropriate in developing a plan. Some individuals will put together daily or even hourly goals while others short term equals weekly. Long term goals go beyond the short term and can be bigger than the immediate with the ability to change over time.

Set SMART goals the next time you decide you want to develop a new habit and change your behavior. "Fail to plan, and you plan to fail," holds true for most of our attempts at a change in behavior. Taking the time to outline what you hope to accomplish, in any area, will increase the chances of success.