Do you have goals

Back to School Series

Setting your goals

I’ve written about attitude and purpose, but you also need to set some goals.

There is an old adage “If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?”

Now - goals are things YOU can reach and are not dependent on others.  So, students, maybe your goal is to get an “A” in a class, but that might depend on the instructor and tests and other factors.  If you goal is to learn and do well on tests, those are (generally) factors you control.

If your goal is to become President of the United State in 2028, that is nice, but there are a lot of factors beyond yourself.  

I like SMART goals:

S - specific.  The more specific the better.  I want to lose weight - great idea, poor goal.  I will weigh no more than 170 pounds by October 1, 2019.

Specific goals also can work better with imaging and even payment.  “I will feel absolutely fantastic when I reach my goal of no more than 170 pounds by October 1, 2019.  I will reward myself with a new <something> - dress, putter, a fishing rod, computer, etc. I will look so great in my new <dress), or I will play better golf with my new <putter>.   If I don’t reach that goal, I will pay $200 to the <some organization you don’t believe in - like ISIS or the Ku Klux Klan> 

Specific goals can be broken down farther.  Maybe you want to weigh 170 or less by October 1st, so you could set a goal of 180 by September 1st, and 175 by September 15th - each being very specific.

For college students, you might set goals like:  I will study at least five hours every day (not counting class hours).  I will get to bed by 11:00 every day. I will sleep at least 7 hours a night.  And … but extra emphasis - “I will sleep at least 7 hours a night - every night until October 1st 2019.  I will wake up refreshed and invigorated. I will walk up and thank God for the new day and new opportunities

M - Measurable.  Is the goal measurable?  Yes or No. How about “I want to feel better by October 1, 2019” - might be nice, but is it measurable?  Yes, I reached my weight goal or no, I didn’t reach my weight goal

A- Attainable.  Can I reach the goal?  “I want to weigh no more than 110 pounds by June 1st, 2020.  If you are 6 feet tall and currently weigh 200 pounds, that goal is not attainable (or not attainable in a good way.  You can starve yourself, be hospitalized, but that is not an attainable goal. Maybe your goal is to weigh not more than 170 pounds by tomorrow (and you weigh 200 pounds now) - probably not attainable (or at least not in a healthy sense.

R- Relevant.  Does this make sense to you?  Now - that is a personal issue.  “I will pick up all the trash around my house/residence hall - every morning.” That is nice.  Is that relevant to you? If so do it!!

T- Timely.  The more specific (and timely) the better.  

SMART goals are intended to firmly PUT the goal into your brain.  They are to become a part of YOUR thoughts - and thus the achieving of these goals becomes a very important concept.

Do you have goals?

Karen