Goal Setting by Anna Byrnes, MS, RDN, LDN
Now is the time of year when some may decide to start this coming new year by setting a goal or two. If this is you, I want your game plan to bring in the most success for you. And that is why today we are going to be talking about goal settling and how to write the perfect goal to lead you to accomplishing anything you set your mind to,
I truly believe that you are capable of succeeding in anything you are determined to achieve. And when deciding the perfect time to get started on something new, now is as good as time as any to begin.
There are 4 steps to take in order to map out how your goal will become your reality.
Establish your big goal: This is your end goal, the big picture and ultimate completion of what you are hoping to achieve. This can be specific to achieving somethings tangible or it can be related to a feeling or level of progress in something you are hoping to improve. This goal is something you are excited about and can be used as a form of motivation on the days when your smaller goals feel difficult to check off.
Establish three smaller goals: These will lead you ultimately to your big goal. They can look like daily/weekly goals you set for yourself that build the habits and routines that will lead you ultimately to your designated goal.
Write down your WHY: Your WHY is not just about the goal you are setting for yourself, it is about why you are driven to start achieving this goal. Your WHY will help you understand the roots of where your goal is coming from and also support you throughout the entire process of your accomplishments. It will help you understand yourself and ultimately serve as your foundation for consistency (because some days motivation will not be enough). You are encouraged to sit down as you write your big and small goals, to also answer these questions below
When setting a goal, it is important to not only set the physical structure of the goal in place, but also to understand the emotions behind it. Answer these questions below as your action plan for your goal/s begin to become established:
How do you feel now before starting this goal?
How will you feel after your goal is accomplished?
Who will know about this goal?
Why is it important to you that thees people know/do not know about this goal?
If you set another objective than the goal you choose, would accomplishing it make you feel the same way?
What inspired you to aspire for this goal?
Create your plan: Make it SMART! (1) SMART goals are designed to create a structure to your goal/s that will not only guild you to success, but ensure that you are given just enough of a challenge to make big things happen! Establishing SMART goals is one way to ensure this structure will be the perfect combination of challenging and achievable:
Sustainable - Ensuring that your goals are something you believe you will be able to keep up for longer than your designated time is vital. Even if that means creating a goal that feels as though it is “too easy” to complete. You will find success with your big goal, by the consistency of your smaller goals, rather than the intensity. If your smaller goals are not something you see yourself doing regular, it’s time to reframe your smaller goals to be sustainable in a way that you can envision yourself achieving these goals without too much additional stress/conflict in your current day to day life.
Measurable - Creating measurable SMART goals means that you are able to clearly determine when you have achieved that goals for the day/week. Measurable goals usually entail some form of numerical structure and/or a task which can clearly be achieved to establish the structure of your goal.
Attainable - You, your mind, and your body are all unique. Ensure that your goals are aligned with endeavors that you are realistically capable of. Reflect back on your WHY to double check that your goals being set are desirable for both the external and internal self, and are able to be attained in relation to your own unique self.
Relevant - Ensure your smaller goals will truly support your big goals pursuits and do not just create busy work for you. Creating relevant goals means there is a direct line to which your smaller goals can be funneled back to supporting your bigger goal.
Time bound - Ensure your goal has structured time parameters, this can look like how often you are going to complete your goal daily/weekly/monthly as well as an end point of when you are going to complete your goal. This end point does not have to be the true stopping point of your goal, but will establish a planned time to reflect on how the goal is working for you and serving to help you reach your bigger goal.
Example: Say your goal is to be more hydrated…instead of making your goal “drink more water” instead write your goal as “Drink 10oz of water x3 times throughout the day, x5 days a week for the next 3 months.” This structures not only sets"
