10 Steps to Setting Smart Goals That You Will Stick With! Setting Goals in 2020!

2020 is HERE!!!!

And we all know what that means….. New Years Resolutions right?!

NOT FOR ME! I choose NOT to make any New Year’s Resolutions.  Why you ask?  Because I’d rather set some Smart Goals than make any more New Years Resolutions!!

Resolutions to me are designed for failure. Somewhere along the way the world decided that on Jan 1st of each year, we all should make some resolutions to be better people for the new year coming. Blah blah blah.  This is a good idea on paper but no where are we taught HOW to really make and KEEP these so called resolutions.

According to Dictionary.com the word Resolution means “a formal expression of opinion or intention made”, or “a decision or determination”.

An opinion or intention??? That doesn’t sound too strong to me…  Decision or determination sounds a bit better but still there is nothing in the definition that states a point of measure.  How will you know when you reach this decision or determination??  And what’s going to keep you on track?

To me Resolutions don’t work because once they are made most people;

1. Don’t know what to do

2. Don’t know how to do it

3. Think can do it on their own

4. Don’t have a system to measure their progress

So then you ask What is a GOAL? How is it different from a Resolution?  Isn’t a goal just a Dream?

The Answer: NO

A dream is this kind of wishy washy ” yea it would be nice if someday I…”  It’s an aspiration or an aim but again there is no real point of measure or method to getting there.  A goal on the other hand is a concrete definitive statement of intention as I like to say.

The Dictionary definition of a goal is “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed” or “a pole, line, or other marker by which such a point is indicated”.

Goals are like your GPS or Road Map….Without it you probably won’t end up at your desired destination.

Sure you may want to just fly by the seat of your pants, smell the roses along the way, take in all the scenery, etc….and eventually you MAY get there, BUT it will have taken you a VERY long time, and you probably wasted a ton of gas and energy along the way.

Besides wanting to get to our destination quickly, there are many reasons to set goals;

1. Helps take your vision of the future and make it a reality
2. Keeps you motivated and on track
3. Raises your self-confidence
4. Eliminates distractions and keeps you focused when every day life gets in the way
5. Helps you organize your time so you can be the most efficient.

One of my best friends, Tahirah Memory, likes to use this word “efficient” when describing me and she is 100% correct. I LOVE being efficient. To me this means getting the most accomplished in the least amount of time, using the least amount of money and brain power.  And yes my brain power is extremely important to me because I know that my brain can only hold so much information at one time.  And when it’s on overload- forget it because I am useless at that point.

So you ask, What kind of goals should I make??

You can make any goals you like.  However the goals must be SMART in order to count in my book.

What do I mean by SMART?

• S – Specific

• M – Measurable (quantitative)

• A – Attainable (Not super easy but not too hard)

• R – Relevant (will help you achieve the overall big picture)

• T – Time-bound (Deadline or Due date is given)

Here’s an example of what I mean;

RESOLUTION or GOAL= To lose weight this year

SMART GOAL= I will lose 4 lbs per month for a total of 48lbs for the year.  In order to do this I will make 1 smarter food choice per month (ex. swapping sweet potatoes for french fries) and I will commit to going to the gym 3x per week, even if for only 30mins each time.

You can see how by getting specific and putting a deadline, the Smart Goal is much more achievable.  Without these 5 components you might as well stick to your same ole resolutions.

For those who are ready to get started making some Smart Goals, here are my

10 Steps to Setting Smart Goals that you will stick with!

1. REFLECT on the previous year’s goals (or lack of goals). What was accomplished, and what wasn’t. What did you really spend those 365 days doing?? Are you happy or do you wish you did more??  DON’T SKIP THIS STEP.  This is a crucial step for understanding yourself.

2. Ask God to reveal what He has for you for the following year.  At the end of each year I try to spend as much time with the Lord to listen to what He wants me to do.  I believe God speaks to all of us, we just are not always listening.  And I know God created each of us for a specific plan and purpose and He wants us to co-labor with Him to accomplish that purpose.

3. Start with the BIG PICTURE.  Have a vision for your overall goals.  It could be starting a business, taking better care of your health, spending more time with your family, etc.

4. Break down the big picture into smaller pieces, by month, then by week, then by day

5. WRITE IT DOWN.  Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision, And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.”  Write down these big and small goals on a sheet of paper, in your phone, wherever you will be able to quickly access them.

6. Give your small goals DEADLINES.  Then put these goals in a planner &/or calendar according to the deadline dates.  For me, I’m old school so I still carry around a 6 x 9 paper planner that I hand write everything in!  For me this is what works.  I simply cannot put things in my phone- I am a paper and pen kinda gal   Maybe for you, you are a digital person and so your phone works great.  Whatever works for you- DO IT!

7. TELL SOMEONE.  You need an accountability partner (but be sure they are not Negative Nancy).  You want to tell someone who will encourage you, kindly remind you and keep you in check.  It could be a friend, your partner, your pastor, or your coach- Like Me!

8. POST IT where you can see if every day!  If you can see it, you will stay focused on it.

9. Constantly Re-evaluate and update your goals and progress.  Check in with yourself every month to see how you are doing.  Don’t wait til the end of the year to see your results.

10. REWARD yourself.  Once you have achieved a small goal, give yourself a small reward.  When you hit a Big goal, give yourself a BIG reward (trip to Cancun maybe??)

Lastly here are a few tips to keep in mind along the way;

• Be positive. Being negative or putting yourself down will not help
• Know your priorities and responsibilities and make goals that align with these things first.
• Understand it takes 21 days to 3 months to form a HABIT!  So start out slow and small and build from there.
• Put yourself in a situation/environment to win. Meaning if you know you have a weakness for pizza, and you are trying to lose weight, don’t step foot in a pizza shop! Instead make yourself a huge salad with chicken and bring your lunch to work. You will be forced to eat whatever you bring and won’t be tempted to have a slice.
• Understand we are all human and we all have limitations.  No one is perfect.  At the end of the day it’s not about having the self-discipline to achieve these goals but rather having the God-discipline to know that we can’t do anything apart from Him.  We were created to be dependent, to need a savior, and if you partner with Him, your weakness will be made strong in His strength! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Let me know below what YOUR Smart Goals are for 2020!

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