How to Set a SMART Goal
When it comes to lifestyle changes- goal setting can make a HUGE impact in your success. We all have goals, or ideas of the change we want to see in our head. However, it is important to write your goals to help you not just focus on the what you want but HOW you will get there.
Think about it! When you decide what you want to study in college- they give you specific credits you need to get to your degree. You take it semester-by-semester, 15 credit hours (or so) at a time. If you went into school thinking about 120+ credit hours, you wouldn't know where to start or how to get there!
SMART goals are similar. I LOVE goal setting- it is why after my 1:1 client calls, I send each of my clients a goal sheet summarizing what we talked about in our session, their specific and individualized goals and HOW they will meet these goals.
Interested in setting your own SMART goals? I break it down here!
SMART Goals are: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time specific. Let's get into the nitty gritty.
SPECIFIC: this means that your goal is not too broad. For example- "I want to have six pack abs" or "I want to heal my gut" is not specific enough. This is a general objective for your goals- or something over arching your goal is working toward. However, we need to make our goals specific- real specific. This will allow for your goals to be actionable. Set real numbers for that goal that you can achieve.
MEASURABLE: this means that the goal can be tracked or measured. How will you know how you are doing with your goal if you cannot measure it? The goal needs to be something you can evaluate using metrics and or a target to try an reach.
ATTAINABLE: set goals that you know are possible to achieve. Setting a goal that is going to be impossible, will be disheartening and not be a good starting place. If you are exercising zero times a week- do not set a goal to exercise seven days a week for an hour- we want to ACHIEVE our goals and build on those.
RELEVANT: does the goal align with your broader goal? We want to make sure our specific goals are stepping stones to your larger objective. If you want to improve your relationship with food- cutting out carbs would not be relevant to that larger objective. Make sure the goal is important in what you want to achieve!
TIME SPECIFIC: this is important to help make the goal actionable as well. We do not want to just teeter about with our goals with no end in sight. The goal should have a when (for my clients if often the time between our sessions) and know this is when this goal should be achieved by.
Example of SMART Goal for gut health:
- I will increase my fiber intake to 25 grams of fiber each day by adding a serving of whole grains to my breakfast and lunch every day for the next 2 weeks.
Example of SMART Goal for exercising more:
- I will incorporate a 10 minute walk during my lunch break Monday-Friday for the next 2 weeks.
What are your questions regarding SMART Goals? Let me know below! If you want help setting AND achieving goals- reach out to me. I would love to work with you and get you started on your own path to success with my 12 week Food & You Renew program. A program where we focus on your relationship with food AND your goals!
