DrDan’s Toolbox – SMART Goals, your choice

In my last post, we talked about reforming your New Year’s Resolutions, New Year’s Solutions, or goals into SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.  How are you doing with those goals?

Many of you are probably at a critical decision point right about now.  Experts tell us it takes about 30 days for a new or different action to become a habit.  Unfortunately, many us begin to lose focus on our new goals after 10-14 days.  So, this is a critical point in establishing those new habits or goals.

If you are having trouble staying on track towards your new habits, consider this.  At some point you will “fall off the wagon.”  It’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’  You might have a bad day, be emotionally upset, be busy, etc. and eat that food you are trying to avoid, or skip the workout, or smoke that cigarette.

Now what??

Here is your critical decision point.  As I see it, you now have two choices.  One, you throw your hands in the air and exclaim “I can’t do this” or “This is too hard!” and abandon your goals.

Second, you can step back for a moment and tell yourself, “Well, that isn’t what I wanted to do.  This mistake isn’t taking me where I want to go.”  Further, review the situation where you strayed off track and try to figure out where things went sideways.

Then, remind yourself how important this life change is to yourself, and “get back on the wagon.”

Last time, I gave the example of wanting to post a blog on the 1st and 15th of the month.  If you check the date on this post, I’ve obviously missed that goal already.  So, I have a choice – abandon blogging altogether because I cannot keep to my desired schedule or get the blog out ASAP!  I decided to get back on track as soon as I could, and to hit my goal on the first of next month.

You can give up and quit on yourself, or you can gently remind yourself why what you are doing is important and restart down the new path you’ve chosen.

Your choice.