Contrary to what it sounds like, the opposite of SMART goals are not stupid goals. If there is an opposite of a SMART goal, it might be a frustrating goal. We’ve all had those! Those are the ones that keep rearing there ugly little heads because we haven’t achieved them yet. This is not to say that every unmet goal is unmet because it’s not SMART; but when a goal almost mocks you over and over again by staying on your list and never getting done, one of the first things we should check is whether or not the goal is SMART.
Goal setting and achieving research (yes, it’s really a thing) tells us that for a goal to be effective, it must be SMART. So what does it mean for a goal to be SMART? For a goal to be SMART it must be:
S- Specific
M-Measurable
A- Attainable
R-Relevant
T-Time bound
Specific. It is helpful to be clear and specific about what it is you want to accomplish; otherwise you won’t be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it.
Forget it!: Be more spiritual.
Go for it!: Read the Bible and pray 5 out of 7 days /week.
Measurable. Quantifying the goal not only helps you to know without any doubt whether you’ve achieved the goal; tracking along the way can help with motivation.
Forget it!: Exercise more.
Go for it!: Walk 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Attainable. We talked about this last week (insert link). In most case, this is going to be unique for every situation. What may be realistic for one person may not be for someone else. Attainable also means that it is something you actually have control over. Goals that are not reasonable or that are completely out of our control are both frustrating and de-motivating.
Forget it!: Lose 500 pounds in 3 weeks. Forget this too!: Make my daughter manage her finances better.
Go for it! Lose 5 pounds this month. And this!: Stop giving money to daughter to rescue her.
(* more about food struggles in a couple weeks!)
Relevant. We need to ask ourselves why we want to reach this goal. The reason needs to be personally relevant based on our own wants, needs and season of life.
Forget it!: Become a writer.
Go for it!: While I am getting out of debt, I will practice writing by starting a weekly blog.
Time bound. “A goal without a date is just a dream” (Michael Hyatt). Generally speaking without the date, our intentions tend to say just that…intentions. The date needs to be reasonable but needs to create some sense of urgency so we’ll get going on it. It’s like that rule…you know, the one that says that a job that needs to get done will expand to the amount of time you have available to accomplish it. Without a date, the time is indefinite; so the task will expand indefinitely – and basically never get done.
Forget it!: Lose 20 pounds.
Go for it!: Lose 20 pounds by December 31st.
So whether we have goals that have been sitting there unaccomplished forever, or if we have just decided on a new goal; the first thing we need to do is make sure they are SMART!
Take care of you…
