A few months ago, a client told me she had a great technique for losing weight. She hung a big sign above her scale that said, "How will I lose the last 10 pounds?"
She weighed herself daily, sometimes even more than once a day, and the sign was meant to motivate her to lose more weight. I was curious about her method, so naturally I inquired more about it. She then went on to tell me, while the sign was meant to motivate her, she could not answer the question of "how," which is what lead her to me.
With New Year's recently upon us, we are setting goals more than ever. But if a goal leaves you feeling hopeless and frustrated, it may be time to rethink your goals, right? Trust me, I have made countless resolutions that never amounted to anything, because I simply didn't think about the action behind the goal.
Basically, any type of goal should tell a story. It should give you a very specific action. When it comes to losing weight or getting healthy, the tendency is to set a goal like "lose 7 pounds" or just "lose weight." That can work initially, but it gets harder as you lose more weight, or if you feel as though you are depriving yourself.
By creating what I call a "story goal," you are actually giving yourself a task -- something to do. For example, you can set a goal to eat 4 veggies, every day, for 21 days in a row. Now, you know exactly what you have to do to reach that goal, so it removes the frustration of how to achieve it. The 7 pounds you'd like to lose will become a benefit of your story goal, and you're taking the focus off of the scale, which is a benefit in and of itself.
Once you clearly see what you want, it's easier to create your plan! Hey, you need a destination when you get in your car for a roadtrip, right? And if you don't know how to get there, you need a map, too. Breaking down your vision into mini-goals is a great way to create real changes in your life.
S.M.A.R.T goals are commonly used by authors, trainers, employers and coaches. They are a proven, effective method. Try setting S.M.A.R.T goals for yourself. Remember they need to be: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Tangible.
Keep this in mind when setting your mini-goals:
SPECIFIC: The more specific you are when setting mini-goals, the more likely you'll zone in and achieve what you want. For example, a general goal may be to exercise. A specific goal is targeted: To ride my bike in Central Park four times a week for 20 minutes, and elevate my heartrate to my target zone. That goal offers you a clear picture, a story line that's easy to follow.
S.M.A.R.T goals should answer the six "W" questions:
- Who: Who is involved?
- What: What do I want to create?
- Why: Why is this important to me? Identify purpose and benefits.
- When: Set your timeframe. Hold yourself accountable.
- Where: Establish a location.
- Which: Identify your obstacles and strategize to overcome them.
MEASURABLE: It's a great tool to set criteria and ways to measure your goals. When you measure progress, reach your targets and feel and see results, you are inspired by your own achievements, and more likely to continue to work hard to create your vision.
To make sure your goal is measurable, ask questions such as: How long? How many? How much? How will I know when it is achieved? How will I know when it is accomplished?
ATTAINABLE: I am a firm believer that nothing is impossible to a willing heart. Believe in yourself and do the work. Commit to your vision and figure out the steps to make it happen. Think about the abilities, skills, resources and attitude you need to create changes. You'll be amazed at yourself when a goal that once seemed out of reach has become your reality because you've stretched yourself.
REALISTIC: You have to factor in who you are as a person, your lifestyle and your current state. Your goals need to align with who you are at the core or else they just won't stick. You can't fit a square peg in a circle box, right? So take the measures necessary to make realistic changes that you are willing and able to work toward.
TANGIBLE: Lots of internal changes need to occur when we create change. Most importantly, remember to keep a positive attitude and mindset. It helps to tie internal changes to tangible ones, so think of the senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell and hearing. This can help to make it specific, measurable and attainable.
Remember, celebrate your dedication and create real changes in your life!
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Jennifer Tuma-Young is an author, coach, entrepreneur, speaker, wife and mother. She began a career in wellness nine years ago, but knew she had to make major self-transformations before truly pursuing her passion for working with others.
Since that time, Jennifer has lost over 125 pounds, overcame the threat of type II diabetes, and is a much healthier person inside and out. In addition to being featured on Capessa and becoming a Capessa blogger, Jennifer's also the founder of Find Balance In You and created the interactive DVD Diets Don't Work. She is a contributor to Diet TV and moderates an online support group. Jennifer hosts a podcast radio show with her husband (who is also a chef!) and is working on two books in her spare time. She has appeared on over 300 radio and television programs. Her goal is to inspire and assist people change their lives in the most practical ways possible. She's a regular girl, wife, and mother with a "real" approach to life. Jennifer utilizes her experiences and expertise to offer tips, tools, and motivation for the average person. She's like a project manager for your life and wellbeing!