Hopefully, with following our last article you have started to think about and recording your goals for 2012 onto paper!
For some, setting goals can be a little daunting to start with, so we will explain how to write good solid goals. There is a well-known, but highly effective goal setting principle called the “S.M.A.R.T. Principle”. This stands for: – SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACTIONABLE, REALISTIC & TIME-BOUND. We will give a brief description of each of these below:
SPECIFIC – It’s important to make your goals as clear as possible. To do this, ask the six ‘W’questions. WHOis involved? WHAT do I want to accomplish? WHERE will this goal take place? WHEN will I achieve this goal? WHICHrequirements and constraints do I need to consider and prepare for? And finally WHY?
MEASURABLE – Tracking the progress of your goals encourages you to stay on track and motivated. The way you track your progress will be personal to you. You may choose to keep a journal, create graphs, or take photographs.
ACTIONABLE – You will need to put actions into place to reach your goals. A goal without action is merely a dream. When you read your goals, are you motivated enough to put action into place to achieve them?
REALISTIC –Your goals must create an outcome that you are willing and able to work towards. Goals should be highly motivating, and it has been found that larger goals are generally the most inspiring! If your goals do not get you inspired or motivated, you realistically won’t accomplish them.
TIME-BOUND – Set a time-frame for your goals. Create a sense of urgency!
If you want to get creative and have fun with your goal setting, you could make a “vision board”. A vision board is a board on which you stick photographs or images of what you wish to achieve, and is a very visual tool for staying focused on your goals. For example, if you want to eat healthier you might want images of fresh fruit and vegetables, or if your goal is to lose weight, you might choose a photo of someone who’s body shape resembles that of which you wish to achieve. A vision board can also contain all of your goals, not just one.
Celebrating your goals as you reach them is vital for your success at achieving future goals. Too often people (well, the minority who actually set goals), get so focused on moving to the next goal thatthey forget to celebrate and feel the sense of achievement of the previous one! It is a basic human desire to feel that we and others are proud of us, and therefore it’s important to spend time enjoying the glory! We are not advising you to become smug or overconfident, but simply enjoy and celebrate your success with a humble confidence that you have achieved your goal.Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps it’s because escape is easier than change.” We wish to see you succeed in 2012 and live a life of happiness and fulfilment attained through the use of goal setting. We are able to provide you with the tools necessary to set and work towards goals and achieve an amazing life. Ask our friendly staff for some goal setting work sheets and get started today!
Take time now and define the goals you set after our previous article, and have your plan of action available to be viewed by yourself regularly.
The only thing holding you back from the life you desire is yourself.
Have a Wonderful Week and Be Well,
From the Team at Hervey Bay Wellbeing, Anti- Aging & Longevity Centre
