New Year Resolutions in February

So here we are.  Another month down.  I can't believe it is February already.  Where did January go?  

Now that we are beginning a new month, how are you doing with the goals you set for yourself so far? Have you reached any of the goals?

If yes, that is terrific - you are on your way to having a great year.

If no, you are not alone.  More than 92% of those that made New Year's Resolutions have already failed.  92%!

We all know how January 1st goes - New Year's Resolutions are in place, everything is planned and ready to go.  But by January 5th, plans start to unravel, workouts are missed because you are too tired or too sore from working out the past 4 days, or simply LIFE happens.

Do you think that maybe, just maybe, some New Year's Resolutions are born to fail?  Fail because there weren't S.M.A.R.T. Goals?  

Take a look at your Resolutions and compare them to what S.M.A.R.T. Goals should be:

Specific

Where your goals specific enough in that they detail that you will do what, how you will reach that goal and by when.  For example, if one of your goals was to Run in a 5K, which is a great goal, but how are you going to accomplish that?  What are you going to do to train for it (assuming you may have never ran a race before)?  

Another example is say you want to lose 40 pounds  Again, another great goal, but how are you going to lose weight and by when are you wanting to lose those 40 pounds.

Measurable

Can you measure your progress?  How will you know you have succeeded in reaching your goal? In terms of losing weight, it will be measured on a scale or even how your clothes are fitting you.

Achievable

Is your goal achievable, but more importantly, does it require something to change in your life in order to reach that goal?  It has to be a noticeable change too.  Le'ts look at the goal of losing 40 pounds.  Will losing 40 pounds require you to make a change(s) in your life?  Well, if by adding exercise (consistent exercise if you already do) and making healthier eating habits is a change for you, then yes.

Realistic

This relates back to the goal being Achievable.  In regard to the 40 pound weight loss, yes you can lose 40 pounds, but if your goal was to lose 40 pounds in a month, that is not only unrealistic, but very dangerous as it means that you are going to have to do something drastic and probably unhealthy in order to lose that amount of weight in such a short period of time.  A more realistic goal would be to lose 40 pounds by May.  40 pounds in 5 months is a very realistic (not to mention safe and healthier) goal.

Timely

Is your goal time-based?  That means does your goal give you a specific date deadline.  For example, losing 40 pounds by May is a timely goal.  Losing 40 pounds is not a timely goal.  Add a deadline as to when you want to reach your goal.  Then you want to break it down even further.  40 pounds in 5 months means that in order to reach your goal, you will have to lose less than 10 pounds every month. (A doable goal if you focus on exercising and hone in your nutritional habits.)

So let's take a look at your New Year's Resolutions again.  Are they S.M.A.R.T. goals?  If not, take a few minutes to reevaluate, make them S.M.A.R.T. and post them so you can see them daily (on the fridge, as a screensaver to your computer or even your phone.

Now that you have made your Resolutions S.M.A.R.T., what is one of your S.M.A.R.T. goals?