I want this new year to be full of success! I want goals to be achieved for not only myself, but for others. That is why I've titled this post 'New Year New You'. I want to help you to become empowered. To take your life back from your excuses & hang-ups.
Goals
I want this new year to be the year that you stop making excuses, and start making changes. I know that you have it in you, now look inside yourself.
Think of all the goals that you want to achieve. Write them down! Think about what it would look like to achieve those goals. To have that success. To have a smaller waistline. To feel healthier from the inside out. To be able to chase after your kids (or grandkids). To have more money (or money, period) in savings. To have a better relationship with your partner. To spend more time with your kids. To_____________ (you fill in the blank)!
Start by writing your goals down.Think about your goals specifically...use the SMART acronym. You can click here to check out a video I made that talks about what SMART means for your goals.
The SMART acronym is a great way to start mapping out your goals for success.
'S' stands for SPECIFIC.
Your goals should be detailed. For example, instead of saying you want to save more money, write down a goal with some details like this, for example:
I am...(using present tense will help the goal become more personal, and allow you to think about it in terms that make you picture it as something you have already accomplished. Ever heard of the term 'fake it, 'til you make it'?).
SO...I am, saving $200 per month by making my own lunch and snacks to take to work, & by making my own coffee at home.
'M' stands for MEASURABLE.
The example I used above for 'S' is for SPECIFIC, is also a measurable goal, because you can calculate how much you are saving each month, and therefore see when you are achieving your goal of saving $200 per month.
You can track your purchases from previous months by look at your bank statements, and adding up the amount of money you spent on lunches and snacks, as well as on coffee (or other beverages). Then, you can compare what you just calculated to the cost of the food you buy to prepare your own lunches and snacks + beverages. It may definitely be cheaper to prepare your own meals.
You can also take before, during, and after photos of yourself, which I always do before I start any new routine. These photos are amazing ways to track progress that you may not have seen if you had only been weighing yourself.
I was so discouraged one time at a gain of an inch around my hips, until I compared my before photo with how I looked at that moment of discouragement. That discouragement turned to elation, as I realized that the gain had come from a workout-induced non-surgical butt lift! Wahoo! So, never underestimate the importance of measuring your goals, and also measuring them in multiple ways.
'A' is for ATTAINABLE.
When you are setting your goals, think about if they are actually goals that you can realistically achieve. Are they actually feasible based on your circumstances, or can you change your current circumstances so that your goals can be achieved?
For example, if you want to save that $200 mentioned up in the 'M' is for MEASURABLE section, do you actually have $200 extra that you can save? Do you have money that you are spending on entertainment or dining out multiple times per month? Think about where you can be saving, instead of spending, then you can determine if your goal to save $200 per month is attainable.
'R' stands for REWARDING.
I've also heard the 'R' stand for realistic, as well as relevant. Of course your want your goals to be realistic and relevant, or you would be wasting your time setting those goals, right? So, that is why I've chose to have the 'R' in the SMART acronym stand for 'rewarding'. When a goal is rewarding, you feel elation (and are rewarded intrinsically, and why not reward yourself extrinsically) as you achieve the smaller steps toward to bigger goal.
'T' is for TIMELY.When you set a goal, you should also have in mind when you want to achieve it. You don't want it to get lost in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of your normal routine, but want it to be something that has a deadline.
Think about what you need to be doing every day so you can achieve your goal by the time you scheduled to achieve it. Yes, this can be flexible, because things come up in life that may knock you off track, such as unexpected events. When these happen, refocus and get back on track.
You should review your goals often, always assessing if they are SMART, and ensuring that they align with your priorities. As your life changes, your goals may change too. With set goals that you've written down, you will be directing your life, instead of just drifting through life.
Also, when you are thinking about your goals, think about them in a well-rounded fashion. In other words, you want your life to have balance, right? So, instead of focusing your goals on one area, such as your finances, include other areas of your life in your goal setting, as well. Set goals for your relationships, health, fitness, spirituality, etc..
Until next time...please check out my page and 'like' and 'share' it on Facebook: Sarah's Drive
Thanks!
-Sarah B.
Wife, student, navy veteran, fitness coach, & mom of a type 1 diabetic.
www.beachbodycoach.com/iib4
