Photo by nick beswick on Unsplash 

Whether you believe this or not this is your year, your year to succeed and blossom, happy new year to new you. We should also be conscious of the fact that this is also the season that most people make promises to themselves that they usually don’t keep “I will be better at _______”.

Most times its not about not wanting to keep these promises but most people are not prepared to keep these promises which often leaves us feeling lost, stagnant and insufficient.  The promises we make to ourselves are our goals and if we are not prepared to keep the ones we have made on January first then we are already heading towards catastrophe.

 Goals are pretty common or can be unique to each individual, but all goals share one common foundation which is the idea that we can feel accomplished by doing something we have never done or getting better at something that we are unsatisfied with.

For years goals have remained elusive, tiresome and sometimes strait up unattainable, until now.

Its time to get SMART with your goals! SMART goals was introduced to me during my business management course in college.  (yes I’m using this info in the real world)

 S is for specific: Be clear on what you want to achieve don’t dance around your ideas and write it down. Example of what not to do - “I want to lose weight” | Example of what to do - “I want to lose 10 pounds”. don’t be afraid to say it out loud, if you want to achieve your goals you have to be direct, no bull.

 M is for measurable: Ensure that you can accurately assess how the goal will be carried out. Example of what not to do- “I want to lose 10 pounds by summer” | Example of what to do - I will try to lose one pound per week in order to accomplish my 10-pound goal. Keep it measurable and keep it reasonable. 

 A is for Achievable: Your goals have to be realistic. You have to be able to see yourself in the near or far future accomplishing this goal, there has to be an understanding of how the goal will be accomplished. Example of what not to do- there’s an event around the corner and I hope to lose 50 pounds by next week.  | Example of what to do, there is an event next week, I will work out and eat properly to feel my best.

 R is for Relevant: If the goal is not important to you then you will not achieve it. The goal needs purpose before it can be manifested.  For Example, if you go to the gym just for fun it will be unlikely that you will accomplish anything productive as opposed to if you go to the gym because you would like to embark on a new healthy lifestyle with plans of losing weight or getting toned.

 T is for Time sensitive:  Setting a time line for yourself establishes urgency. Arriving at the end of your goal is the aim of the game, imagine if you had no finish line to your goals, how motivated would you be to pursue anything?

Regarding that one tool that you need to kick butt in 2019? Its a 2019 Planner (if you haven’t figure it out by now ) and you’re in luck because Amazon has lots of them.  Click pic to buy

Be reminded that even though you are getting tough on your goals this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy the process.