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How Setting SMART Goals Can Help You Change Habits

By: Andrea Jordan

Read More About Goal Setting

Have you every had the experience of making a goal to change habits while on holiday only to find that life takes over you are back in your usual routine? Instead of being just another statistic who gives up on their goals why not make this year the year that you achieve your new goals and change habits forever.

A useful tool when you are setting yourself any kind of new goal is the S.M.A.R.T formula:

S pecfic
M easureable
A chieveable
R ealistic
T imely

A Specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the four "W" questions:
Who: Who is involved?
What: What do I want to accomplish?
Where: Identify a location (when applicable).
When: Establish a time frame.

A general goal would be "Start exercising." A specific goal would be "I will run for 10 minutes each day in my local neighbourhood starting on 2 January".

A Measurable goal establishes concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of your goal. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the thrill of achievement that motivates you to continue the effort required to reach your goal. Ask yourself questions such as "how much?", "how many?" and "how will I know when it is accomplished?".

An Achievable goal is one that is reasonable, for example, if your goal relates to weight loss your success or failure depends on setting practical goals. Losing 15 pounds in 30 days is unrealistic although losing five pounds in 30 days is reasonable. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are out of reach.

A Realistic goal must represent an objective toward which you're both willing and able to work. Your goal is realistic when you truly believe that it can be accomplished or when you have accomplished anything similar in the past.

A Timely goal needs a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency. Decide the date that you want to stop your bad habit by. "Someday" won't work and when you anchor it within a timeframe, "by the end of August", then you've set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the goal.

Take a moment now to write down your new goals and make sure they contain every part of the S.M.A.R.T. formula. It's important to write down your goals and put them in a prominent place as a daily reminder of what it is that you are going to achieve.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Andrea Jordan is the Author of "Habit Breaking Facts: How to Change Your Bad Habits, Forever!" (now available electronically). Andrea is also a Corporate Lawyer and a Coach. If you would like to learn more of her coaching tips about making lasting changes to your bad habits and creating a healthier lifestyle then visit www.habitbreakingfacts.net for more information and a FREE chapter of her book. (C) 2010 Andrea Jordan. All rights reserved.

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