We are now almost 2 months into the New Year?! Crazy right?! How are those "resolutions" going so far? Little secret....I do not make resolutions...instead I set goals.
Now while its important to set goals...it is even more important to actually WRITE THEM DOWN. There is something that happens and it really becomes real when take pencil to paper and write out what we want to achieve.
So what is it like to be S.M.A.R.T when it comes to reaching those goals? I mean REALLY S.M.A.R.T!
It's an acronym that may be totally new to you but one that actually works so I wanted to share it with you today in hopes it helps you like it has for me. :) Its something I have learned through the years as a coach and something I teach in my challenge groups as well. SMART stands for Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and Time-Bound goal setting. This can mean a lot of different things to different people but here is SMART, broken down:
Specific - Get specific! My girl Dani Johnson says...nothing becomes DYNAMIC until it becomes SPECIFIC. When you figure out exactly what it is that you are trying to do, your overall goals become clearer. Do you want a six pack? Toned thighs? To be able to do five pull ups? Set your SPECIFC goals to give yourself something to work toward. Measurable - There are several things you can measure when setting your goals. First, YOU! Measure the areas that you want to work on - hips, waist, thighs, etc. If you are set on using your scale, record your weight. Keeping track of your measurements gives you a concrete look at how close you are getting to your goals. Second, measure your progress when working out. You may only be able to do ten girl push ups and your goal may be twenty full on push ups. Measure your starting point and end goal - tracking these progressions will give you something to look forward to and look back at. AND PICTURES! Yep I know everyone always frets at taking before photos...but when you can actually SEE the progress you have made with before and afters, it is incredibly motivating! Attainable - What goals that you set are truly attainable - be realistic! You may WANT to run your first 5k, but start out slowly. It happens one step at a time. Whether it's fitting into an old pair of pants or lifting fifty pounds, set small and realistic goals along the way. Relevant - If you don't LIKE to run or have bad knees, don't start running just to say you are doing it. Choose a workout or plan that fits with what works for you - not anyone else. If you are unsure of a workout or what you should start with....message me and I can help at.... www.facebook.com/kristinsharpfitness. Time-bound - Set your time, realistically, when you are goal setting. If it's bikini season you want to be ready for, figure out what you need to do to get there each day and week. This may need a little tweaking along the way, but having a specified time to reach your goal makes it more difficult to just flail in the wind and give up! You can even break that down...loose 1 lb a week, 5 lbs a month, etc... By focusing on goals in a way that fits your lifestyle, you will find yourself not only successful in your journey but successful in a way that can make you excited about it being a long term lifestyle change! :) Do you have some S.M.A.R.T. goals set for the coming month? Come on over to my Facebook page here and tell me about it!