How to Make a S.M.A.R.T. New Year's Resolution

I love making lists and take pleasure in crossing out the items I've accomplished in it. With 2014 just around the corner, my attention is brought to a different, more meaningful kind of list -- the New Year's resolution.

I am one of those people who make resolutions for the New Year. I think the main benefits of New Year's resolutions are:

1. They put our lives in perspective. 
2. They give us a sense of direction for the coming year.
3. They help scatterbrained and forgetful people such as myself remember my goals. 

I've probably been making New Year's resolutions for eight years and now I've decided to be extra thoughtful and meticulous with how I come up with the one for 2014. 

As a graduate of management, I couldn't help recall some of the principles on goal-setting for businesses and organizations.

The criteria for setting goals in management should be S.M.A.R.T. That is the acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based, these criteria are pretty relevant and applicable to personal life. I'll borrow them for when I make the items in my 2014 New Year's resolution. 

Goals can be more compelling and rewarding if they are S.M.A.R.T. Read on to find out what it takes to make a S.M.A.R.T. New Year's resolution:

Specific

New Year's resolutions should be specific enough that we know exactly how to make them possible. Specific goals help us stay focused and focus, in turn, helps us become efficient and effective in the way we manage our energy and resources for fulfilling our resolutions. 

An example of an unspecific goal is "to become a better person." The intentions behind this resolution are noble (of course, who wouldn't want to become a better person) but it's too general and subjective to be actually practical. Ask yourself what "better" means. Are you talking in terms of your finances? Health? Spirituality? Go for something that will actually motivate you to work towards it. 

Measurable

The great thing about measurable goals is that they leave tangible evidence of your progress and being able to keep track of your progress is a great way to stay motivated. This criteria is very useful for resolutions that are long-term in nature. For instance if you want to "get in good shape" in the coming year, you can make this resolution measurable by listing activities that can be monitored (ex. work out at least an hour everyday, climb the stairs to work, etc.). Measurable goals also help you know when and how you have slacked off allowing you to avoid it from happening again and again. 

Remember to keep track of your progress, it's rewarding to be able to look back at how far you've made it in your New Year's resolution. 

Achievable

New Year's resolutions are something that we should be able to work on, otherwise what's the point of making them? Set goals that are slightly challenging, just enough to keep you interested and defined enough that they are doable.

Ask yourself this: Do I have the skills/abilities and resources to achieve my goal? If you are unsure, you can try to list down sub-goals and activities which will help you overcome the obstacles in the way of your main goal. For example, let's say your 2014 dream goal is to embark on a Euro trip but currently you don't have the budget for it and you are uncomfortable going to non-English speaking countries. Your sub-goals can include saving a (specific) portion of your paycheck and learning the languages of the countries you plan to visit. 

Realistic

Realistic does not necessarily mean easy and some New Year's resolutions are considerably more challenging than others. Being realistic means recognizing your limitations and other factors which you do not have control over. Identifying these will help you set proper expectations and thus make the necessary adjustments to make your goal doable.

For example if your resolution for 2014 is to quit drinking coffee, going cold turkey might not be the most realistic way to go especially if you have been a heavy coffee drinker for years. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to adjust your goal into something more realistic like gradually reducing your coffee intake. You can also consider other alternatives to coffee to help you ease your way into your resolution. 

Time-specific

Like the previous example, some resolutions entail longer work than others. Setting a time frame or a deadline for your goals will create a practical sense of urgency. Deadlines can be motivating and they can push you forward if they are realistic. Time frames also make your resolution more specific. 

When setting a deadline, take into consideration your ability and resources as well as the nature of the resolution. The time constraint of your resolution must be compelling so that it can convince you to stay committed and take action right away but realistic enough that it does not demotivate you. 

New Year's resolutions are essentially here to help us improve ourselves. If you faltered in your resolutions in the previous years, take heart! Don't focus on the failure, instead, take extra time to make a resolution that is S.M.A.R.T. enough that you can stick to it.

Image credit: New Year's Resolutions by SimplyMint