Goals are something that we always say we need and then never get around to creating or even just writing down, tracking and following. I personally need a goal, at being better at setting and tracking my goals. When creating goals, I find a few things are super helpful!
One, writing them down. This may sound stupid to some, but not everyone will write down their goals, they may just think it and keep it in their head. Goals should be hand-written down, not even just typed. This is really helpful in the process of creating and following through with your goals. If you don’t want people to see it, you can hide it or rip it up after you’re done. You can even transfer it to an electronic version after you have written it down.
Now, why you should hand write your goals instead of type them. When you write down your goals, you are building 10,000 new neural pathways in your brain in that one sitting. When you type them, you are only building 600 new neural pathways. That is a huge difference. Why is this useful? Building these neural pathways will actually help you in achieving these goals. Your subconscious mind works better when you are constantly building neural pathways in your brain and then reinforcing those pathways through neuroplasticity. You’ll also notice that some of the most successful people keep handwritten journals.
So you ask, what are S.M.A.R.T. goals?
Here is the break down:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Relevant / Realistic
T – Trackable / Timely
Specific // A goal needs to be specific in order for you to know if you actually accomplish that goal. If it is broad, such as “be healthy”, you will not be able to know if you are achieving or not achieving that goal.
Measurable // A goal needs to be measurable to track your progress. If you want to say “go to the gym three times a week for the next month”, you will know if you are reaching that goal, compared to “go to the gym more”. See the difference?
Attainable // Putting your goals into reach is what keeps you motivated to achieve them. If you want to eventually go to the gym every day, but you know you can not make that commitment right now, as you haven’t been to the gym in a year, than start at a more attainable goal. Once that goal is reached, than make a new goal to reach that goal that once was not attainable. They say, it takes 28 days to build a habit.
Relevant / Realistic // Your goals should also be relevant. A relevant goal should relate to who you are, who you are working to be and any long term goals you may have. A relevant goal should make sense to what your long-term goals are and relate back to your values. An example of a relevant goal, is that your business wants to make a goal to create and sell a beauty product. If your company does not usually make beauty products and makes clothing, this goal may not be relevant for your business or brand.
Trackable / Timely // All goals should be trackable, also known as timely. A trackable goal will help you to actually be able to achieve them. If you can’t track your goal, than how will you know when you have reached it or are making progress. Setting a time that you will achieve your goal will help you to begin progress. An example of this would be setting a goal to “deep clean your house”. That isn’t a trackable or timely goal. You would want to change that goal to “deep clean your house by the time your parents come to visit”. When a couple gets engaged, one of the first things they do, is pick a date. Without a date, the progress in between now and then could take place in two days or in six years. Ff you don’t have an end date to accomplish your goals by, you don’t know when to get anything done by.
Some of my goals this Summer:
- Workout 3 times a week for the month of June
- Double my views from May to June
- Increase Always Sunkissed Instagram followership to 1000 by August.
- Drink 8 cups of water a day, all summer (until September), with at least 2 cups being lemon water.
- Replace five meals a week with protein shakes and/ or smoothies for the summer (until September).
In the comments, tell me some of your summer S.M.A.R.T. goals?
Always Sunkissed 