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Effective goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely.
Specific: Set an exact goal,
establishing what, why and how you’re going to reach your goal. A general goal
would be “get fit”. A specific goal would be “go to the gym three times a week.”
Express each goal as a positive statement – it’s better to say “get up an hour
earlier to exercise” than to say “don’t sleep in.”
Measurable: Create a target for each
goal so that you can measure your progress. Measuring progress helps you stay on
track, reach target dates and enjoy the thrill of knowing when you’ve achieved
your goal. Did you go to the gym three times this week?
Achievable: An achievable goal should
require some effort and stretch you beyond your comfort zone, but shouldn’t be
out of reach. Going to the gym three times a week is achievable – going seven
days a week may not be.
Realistic: Realistic doesn’t mean easy
– it just means that your goals should be possible. You should have the skills,
resources, support and commitment to make them happen. You should also take into
consideration any obstacles in your path and factors that you can’t control –
they may make your goals harder, or even impossible, to reach.
Timely: Give each goal a timeframe so
that you can prioritize your commitments. Setting a timeframe gives you a reason
to get started and keeps you motivated by creating a feeling of urgency. E.g.
“Starting tomorrow, I will go to the gym three times a week for the next three
months.”
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