Good Advice for a Happy New Year!

Remember your New Year’s Resolutions for 2021? (You did make some, right?) Remember how sincere and optimistic you tried to be?

Let’s take a moment to check how we did with last year’s promises. I’ve just checked mine, and here’s my review:

10 RESOLUTIONS I MADE FOR 2021
​AND WHETHER I KEPT THEM OR NOT

1. No.
2. Nope.
3. Certainly not!
4. No way!
5. Uh, Negative.

6. Zero...
7. Whoops!
8. Nah!
9. Not at all.
10. Maybe next year...?

Why, you may ask, were those 10 very well-thought-out and important resolutions not kept? Well, it’s because of …uh..,. because… um...., Actually, I'm not sure. What about you? Are you a good ‘resolution keeper'?

I can remember other years and other resolutions that started out strong (i.e., that Fasting Diet) and then slowly faded away. I soon realized this is a common problem, and we could all use a little help standing strong to our promises for the new year.
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So, I’m glad to tell you that help has arrived! I’ve decided that one of the major problems is THE WORD ITSELF! 

“Resolutions” are usually vague and offer very little motivation –

• I’m going to lose weight;
• I will do better with money;
• I can learn a language!     

​What would happen if instead of calling them New Year’s Resolutions, we all decide to call them NEW YEAR'S GOALS? 

After all, goals are specific; goals have a timeline and require immediate action. So, my suggestion to all is that this year we all make – New Year’s GOALS!

I can hear you now. “How is just calling it something else going to help me stick to my ‘goals.’ Thanks for asking. My suggestion also just happens to include a method!

Meet SMART goals.  See, already the word is making you sit up tall and feel clever. SMART goals were developed by three men, George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham in their 1981 article “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives.”
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That’s right – SMART goals refers to the acronym that was  developed by businesspeople to help management set their goals and objectives. But, when I think about it, S.M.A.R.T. is a smart way for all of us to find focus and motivation. 

Here is what the letters mean:
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S – SPECIFIC
M – MEASURABLE
A – ACHIEVABLE
R – REALISTIC
T – TIMELY

Think about it (that’s the smart part, too). Being Specific, Achievable and Realistic are just sensible and already get you halfway there. For the Measurable part – keep a journal to track your progress along the way! And certainly, one of the most important considerations is Timely. Choose a date by which you feel you can accomplish the challenge. Then, get started!

For Example,

• “Going to lose weight” becomes ‘Lose 5 lbs in 6 weeks with the Weight Watchers Diet.”
  
• “Do better with money” becomes “Call the bank and ask to work with a financial advisor for two months to help manage my funds.”
• “Learn a language,” becomes “Sign up for Babbel or Duolingo by January 10th to start taking free lessons to learn Italian.”

There you have it. Don’t those sound more Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Timely? This year, turn your ‘Resolutions’ into GOALS and enjoy being called a 'smart-y' pants!

Happy New Year!

​~ Loretta