SMARTER Goal Setting

Many of us are planning for our 2014 goals as we are now at the end of 2013. In order for our goals to stand a chance of being fulfilled by the same time next year, maybe it is a good idea to test them against these characteristics, using SMARTER as the acronym;

1. Is the dream Specific? Losing weight is a fuzzy goal. Losing 2 kg is specific.
2. Is the dream Measurable? As they say 'We can only achieve things (and goals) that we can measure'. Losing 2 kg is measurable.
3. Is the dream Actionable? Losing 2 kg is actionable compared to losing say 20 kg.
4. Is the dream Realistic? Losing 2 kg of weight is more realistic than losing 20 kg as per explanation above.
5. Do you allocate a Timeline to achieve it? Goals without timeline is nothing more than make believe.
6. Do you have Emotional reasons attach to the goals? Humans make decisions mostly on emotions, not only logic. Losing 2 kg because you want to be healthier so that you will have longer quality time with your family is a strong emotional reason.
7. What Routine do you plan to achieve your goals? To lose 2 kg may require you to pay a visit to your local gym 3 times a week.

Using SMARTER as a check list helps you to design a better goal for 2014  and increases the chances for you to achieve it by year end.

All the best in formulating your 2014 goals and may all of them will come true by this time next year.      

Swiss Cheese Method for Lasting Change.

When it comes to change, one of the greatest challenges is to maintain the momentum of change. Often after a while, most planned change die a natural death due to lack of commitment, poor follow up and haphazard implementation.

As now is almost the end of 2013, let us look back at some of our goals that we want to achieve this year. Are we anyway getting near to them let alone achieving them? A good example to observe is the parking space available at health clubs or gyms. Normally, it is difficult to find a parking space a few weeks in January. However, the opposite is true from February onward. We can park anywhere we want. This is a good example of starting with a bang and later on die in silent.

What is the secret to lasting change? Maybe the 'Swiss cheese' approach can offer us the solution. I used this method years ago to make a lasting change ie inculcate the habit of reading which is very important in my line of work.

The method is simple. Like the small holes in Swiss cheese, what we do is to perform a small portion of a particular task or allocate a short period of time to do something that we want to make permanent in our life.

In my case, I allocate 20 minutes (at first) everyday (other than weekend) to do my reading. After a few weeks, this 20-minute reading task  became a routine like eating and taking a bath that I feel 'incomplete' without performing it. Slowly but surely, it became my habit until this day.

So, what is the habit or change that you want to implement in 2014? Regular workout in a gym? Helping your kids with their homework? Or maybe be becoming a regular reader? Use the Swiss cheese method to built your new habit to make that lasting change. I assure you that in Dec 2014, you will look back and feel thankful that you make small but consistent change that lasts.