I know, I know, you hear this every year, and you may even think you read this blog post somewhere before, but have you?
Have you done the things that make a difference to you and your success and really stick to your new year’s resolution this year?
No, of course you haven’t, or you wouldn’t be reading this, would you, eh???
Anyone who works in a management capacity will have come across the term SMART objectives. This are objectives that are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable/Assignable
- Realistic
- Time based
So, how does this help you in loosing the spare tyre you’ve developed, or the want to quit smoking that you start with great gusto every 1st of January?
The trick is how to approach the problem, don’t just crash into a huge resolution and try and achieve it all in one go… This is almost guaranteed to fail, as the minute you have a hiccough it’s all over….. you’ve failed (in your head) and old habits return….
Think SMART!
- Start small
(Read realistic here). If you want to loose 3 stone, start with a pound. If you want to run a marathon, start by putting on your trainers! - Have a plan...
By the end of March I’d like to have lost a stone, I’d like to run for 40 minutes…. Measurable – I’d like to have achieved this XX by YY (That’s measurable and time -based in two right there!) Work back from your goal, and break it into manageable chunks (there’s achievable again)! - Don’t think resolution…
Think end game results. I’d like to look good in that suit/dress that I couldn’t fit into this Christmas. I’d like to be able to dance all night at the Christmas party next year without having to sit down, I want to run a marathon, whatever the end game result is…. know it – feel it – own it. This is a specific, measurable, realistic and time-based. Make sure you have it in chunks and it is achievable - Reward yourself…
that’s with appropriate things, not chocolate if you loosing weight, but maybe a massage or a trip to the theatre, when you’ve hit one of your smaller chunks. Maybe even associate the treats at the time you make the chunks. Really have something to look forward too. - Relax a little…
If you have achievable, realistic mini-objectives, then a small deviance is not going to derail the plan. If you slip up, don’t beat yourself up….but likewise don’t reward yourself either. You’ll have to wait for the massage until you do actually lose the prescribed amount of weight. Get back on it and remember that the little successes add up to large ones
If you want to chat with other people with similar interests, why not come over to Facebook or twitter to our friendly community and have chat there or comment below.