Time to Re-evaluate Your New Year s Resolution
Andrea Nisley, Extension Educator University of Nebraska
Cooperative Extension Building Nebraska Families Program
How are your New Year s resolutions coming? Have you given up on them or are you still trying to make them work? If you are struggling to make them work, the problem might be that you do not have a clear picture of what you are wanting to accomplish.
How are your New Year s resolutions coming? Have you given up on them or are you still trying to make them work? If you are struggling to make them work, the problem might be that you do not have a clear picture of what you are wanting to accomplish.
Before we can achieve anything we need to know where we are going and how we are going to get there. This is where goal setting comes in. Goals help you measure your accomplishments. They are the steps you climb to reach your ultimate destination. By setting short and long term goals, you will know what you have accomplished, what you still need to do, and if you need to change your plan.
It is a good idea to develop several SMART goals that will enable you to be successful. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Specific goals are well defined, what you want to accomplish, the purpose or benefits of accomplishing your goal. Measurable goals set specific criteria for measuring your progress toward achieving each goal. Measuring your progress helps you stay on track.
Goals need to be achievable and reasonable. When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true.
Goals also need to be realistic. It's important to honestly evaluate yourself. Do you have the ability and commitment to make your goal come true?
Lastly, your goals need to be timely. Having a specific time frame gives you the motivation to get started. It also helps you monitor your progress.
The first step to success is knowing where you want to go. The second step is having a plan to get there. Your goals are your road map. Follow them and your resolutions will be more successful.
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