2021 is here and this blog is a practical guide on the best way to set your 2021 goals.
At the start of the new year we tend to have big ambitions for the year ahead and why not, dream big! In the same breath, it is so important to ensure we are setting realistic goals, goals that we stand a chance of achieving. I want you to look back in December 2021 with pride at the way you smashed your 2021 goals.
What I find to be the best formula for all goal setting is the SMART formula. This is by no means new but it is so good. SMART goals is an acronym, it dictates that you should ensure your goals are:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Relevant
T – Timebound
Specific
Your goals should be clear and concise about what exactly your goal entails. Consider what your motivation is behind your goal to streamline each of your goals.
Measurable
Consider how you are going to go about achieving this goal. How much time do you need to devote to this goal? When is the deadline? Ensure that your goal motivates you and you are excited about the measures and milestones for your goals.
Achievable
This is an important one y’all. Consider how much time you have, your resources, and the like. Could there any setbacks to achieving this goal? How will you overcome these setbacks if they arise? Factor all of this in because you want to ensure your goal is attainable.
Relevant
This is all about ensuring your goals are significant to you. Does it align with your time constraints, your finances and perhaps even the other goals you have. Consider the effort it is going to take vs your need for it – is it worth it?
Timebound
Setting goals for the year is great, but perhaps you want to set goals just for January. In any instance, you want to make sure your goals are time sensitive and have a beginning middle and end.
My Example
Specific Goal – To have a deeper relationship with God by increasing my prayer life and the amount of time I spend reading the Bible.
I am planning to do this by (Measurable):
- The first 15 mins and last 15 minutes of the day spend in prayer and devotion
- Have a focus each month of one book of the Bible that I will study.
I am able to Achieve this by ensuring that I wake up at least one hour before I start work and using my journal to set out my scriptural focus for each month in advance.
This goal is important to me because I want to be the best version of me, I need the best version of me in order to be successful in my other goals and I know my best self is when I am close to and hearing from God clearly – (Relevant).
Time-bound – Although this goal is for the whole year, I know that by the end of each month, I should have a routine of spending mornings and evenings with God and have read at least one book of the Bible. I can review my progress monthly and assess at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.
There is so much literature on SMART goals. If you are interested in shaping your goals around this SMART formula, this blog is a foundation. However, I would totally recommend doing some further reading. Please see below some resources that have helped me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZXcKyevXKM
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm
Happy goal setting!
Love,
Dom x
