Update: February is Gone. Five ways to get back on track with your SMART goals

Hi everyone. I certainly missed talking to you. I hope you are doing fabulously.

So I know this is a very loaded title since it automatically assumes that you are off track with your smart goals. If you clicked on this link, there is an 80 percent chance that you are. Don’t despair. We still have 10 more months in the year. That means 83 percent of the year is still before us. Whew, what a relief. That means you can still Ace those SMART goals but it also means you will have to work harder and smarter.

1)    Take a minute to review and become reacquainted with those goals that you set at the start of the year.

One goal I shared with you was that I was going to blog at least once a week. I was doing pretty well but I dropped the warm potato last week and failed to post a blog. I would say that’s a ‘Thumbs down Shellecia.’ Seriously though, it is ok to make a mistake or skip a workout or to have some cookies….that’s fine.  We just need to ensure it is a rare occurrence and don’t allow it to develop into a habit.

2)    Review the reasons why your SMART goals may be off track. Were they Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based? Is it your fault that you are off track or were there other reasons beyond your control? Chances are most of the reasons for stumbling are your own, so take responsibility right now.

I am taking full responsibility for the many mornings this year that I failed to get out of bed to exercise because it was ‘so dark’ or my favourite excuse for 2012 ‘those look like rain clouds.’ I am operating somewhere around 60% and I pledge to do better in March. However, there were mornings when it was raining or I was off island and I couldn’t go running even if I wanted to. What I could have done however were some indoor exercises so really everything comes back to us right? Take full responsibility – claim your own victories and your own defeats.

3)    Set new timeframes to measure your progress if you feel you cannot achieve the timeframes you had set. If you are willing to put in the time and effort please do stick with original timeframes. Ensure you measure your progress at these times. 

4)    Share your goals with others. Secrets are the enemy to achieving your goals. Tell your friends and family what you want to achieve and many of them will be your biggest supporters and encouragers.

Persons ask me all the time, how is the exercising going and I can only give half positive answers. This is definitely motivation to do better. I know if I do better, others around me or observing me will automatically do better as well. It is a great cycle of encouragement.  

5)    Finally, Just Do It. Taking action will always be the best step we can take if we are serious about achieving our SMART goals.

Goals are amazing as they give us a sense of purpose and ignite our passions. I hope you are still positive about achieving your goals. I certainly am. The naysayers and discouragers are probably knocking hard on your front door by now but put in your earphones. Side note: I have some cute earphones with the Jamaican colours.

Follow these five tips and you will successfully achieve your SMART Goals for 2012.

We will talk again in a few days. Post a comment below and share your SMART goals for 2012.

SMART Goals NOT Resolutions for 2012!

Season’s Greetings everyone!

Wow it’s been almost a month since my last post. I have been super busy but that is certainly no excuse for me failing to post blogs regularly. I promise to do better in 2012. In fact that will be one of my goals. I will post at least one blog entry per week in 2012. I will also increase circulation and readership of this blog by 20 percent. Are these SMART Goals?

I set a number of SMART goals for myself for 2011, one of which was to train for and run the 5k for Anguilla’s Race against Aids. Guys, I did it! In fact, I won the first place prize in my age category. It really is irrelevant that I was the only female running in that age category J ...the point is I set a goal and I achieved it and won a trophy on top of that. It is a great feeling to accomplish a goal.

So there are about 15 days remaining in the 2011 year. I know many of you are probably thinking about and writing out your New Year’s resolutions. The thing is-you know as well as I do that resolutions seldom work. That resolution to lose weight, to further your education, to increase your savings, to buy a piece of land....is nothing more than a wish list. Instead, let’s focus our energies this year on creating SMART goals for 2012.

So what is a SMART Goal? A SMART Goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.  Let us look at a specific example – To get fit in 2011. A SMART goal would be

Specific – We all have a much better chance of achieving a specific goal than a general goal. For e.g. a general goal would be, “Get in shape.” But a specific goal would say, “Join a gym and workout 3 days a week” or eat a healthy fish meal at least 4 days a week.

Measurable – Establish criteria for measuring progress towards your goals...maybe it can be a downward change in numbers on your scale.

Attainable - You can attain almost any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely, establish the right attitude and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps.

Realistic - To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. If you are unable or unwilling to put in the effort and time to lose 50 pounds, don’t set this goal. Instead select goals which you truly believe you can achieve.

Timely –This is perhaps one of my biggest drivers – setting a time frame for what I want to achieve. A timeframe creates a sense of urgency. When I started running a year ago – I was aware of the exact date of the Race against Aids. I knew my timeframe. Without that time frame, many days I may have stayed home in bed rather than exercise at 5:30am, three days a week. Setting time frames throughout the year may be helpful. State clearly, what you want to accomplish by for example, March, June, September, and December 2012?

So, I am really happy with what I have accomplished in 2011 and I am already writing my SMART goals for 2012. For example, I am going to train three days a week and by November 2012 I will be able to comfortably run an 8k. Why - because I want to beat the lady with the baby in the stroller next year! I am not going to share my other goals with you yet but do stay tuned to this blog for new developments.

I would like to encourage all of you to set SMART Goals for 2012. In fact send me an email at shellecia.brooks@gmail.com or post a comment on my blog and share your goal. It has been proven that persons who share goals are often more successful in achieving them.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you!! Continue to Say Yes to Today and Set your SMART Goals for 2012 now!