Have you ever made a New Year's resolution that you didn't keep? Of course you did—who hasn't? But why don't New Year's resolutions work? Maybe the problem is that people set goals for themselves, like New Year's resolutions, that aren't very well thought-out. If you create New Year's resolutions that are too hard to keep, or are not specific, then you are setting yourself up for failure.
So what's the trick to creating New Year's resolutions that stick? One useful tool you is the SMART model of goal setting. The SMART model was initially created by Peter Drucker in 1954, and has been incorporated widely into the business world since then. SMART stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-Bound
According to Drucker, it's much easier to meet a goal if it meets all five of the SMART criteria. Let's look at how the SMART model applies to New Year's resolutions.
Specific Goals
The first criteria in the SMART model is "specific." This means that the details of what the goal actually looks like need to be laid out explicitly. If a goal isn't specific enough, it may feel too overwhelming.
Let's say that your goal for the New Year is to "lose weight and get healthier." That's not very specific, and because of that, this can be a pretty overwhelming goal. After all, there are dozens of things you can do to get healthier, and you can't choose them all. So instead of "lose weight and get healthier," how's this for a goal? "This year, my goal is to lose 20-25 pounds, exercise at least three times a week, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, floss my teeth once a day, and take a vitamin supplement every morning."
Measurable Goals
The second criteria in the SMART model is "measurable." This means there has to be some kind of numerical way to document the degree to which your goal is a success. Failure to so makes it difficult to gauge your progress, and if you never have the satisfaction of knowing that you're making progress, then you may lack incentive to continue.
So let's say your goal is to "work on my novel." That's a pretty daunting goal. But what if you spend some time thinking about how much of your goal you'd like to complete with a goal like this, "My goal is to write 5,000 words a month, for a total of 60,000 words this year."With numbers like this, it's easy to gauge your progress.
Attainable Goals
The next criteria in the SMART model is "attainable." This is simple: is it possible to achieve the goal, or not? Here are some criteria that are not attainable:
- Lose 60 pounds by April 1.
- Train to run a marathon by February 1.
- Save $60,000 for a house down payment by April 1.
- Make my spouse change.
Some unattainable goals are less obvious. If your goal is to write 60,000 words this year—and you are also working full time, raising three children, volunteering regularly, and going to the gym five times a week, the goal of writing 5,000 words a month may, for all practical purposes, be impossible.
What to do if a goal isn't attainable? Revise your goal to one that is attainable, like losing 15 pounds by April 1, or saving $10,000 for a down payment by the end of the year.
Realistic Goals
Some goals are technically attainable, but the possibility to meeting these goals is unlikely and unrealistic. Let's say your goal is to save 50 percent of your salary—and let's say this is technically possible, but only if you forgo just about all activities you like that require spending money. The chances that you'll stick to such a rigid goal is very unlikely.
Again, the solution is to revise your goal. Instead of fifty percent, how about 10 to 15 percent of your salary? This goal may require some sacrifice, but not an exorbitant amount, so it's more realistic.
Time-Bound Goals
Goals can't be endless. A finish line is a fantastic incentive to continue—even if the first thing you do after the finish line is make a new goal. Here are a few time-bound goals:
- Read 20 books by the end of the year.
- Complete two online classes by the end of the year.
- Remodel the kitchen by September.
- Lose 15 pounds by April 1 and 30 pounds by the end of the year.
New Year's resolutions fail because good goal setting is difficult. before making your resolutions this year, take some time to think about the SMART model—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound—and thin about how this model can apply to your resolutions.
Reference
- Drucker, P. F. (1954). The practice of management. New York: Harper Collins.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
