Goal setters are goal getters!
Fitness Cartel Australia & New Zealand
Inspiring a Healthier YOU!
Specific
To be effective, your goal must specifically state what it is you want to accomplish, Vague, ambiguous goals, such as planning to lose weight or get fit, are open to interpretation and don’t provide a clear focus. “I will lose a kilo per week for the next 12 weeks” is an example of a specific goal. Break the goal down further into smaller goals or objectives that define exactly how you will accomplish the larger goal, such as “I will walk briskly for 30 minutes on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings,” “I will not snack while watching TV” and “I will have fruit instead of desert six nights per week.”
Measurable
SMART goals are measurable, allowing you to clearly see if you are progressing as planned. If your goal is to walk briskly for 30 minutes on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, it’s easy to measure whether you have accomplished that or not. Write down your goals and track your progress.
Action-Oriented
SMART goals are action-oriented, enabling you to create concrete steps that you will take to be successful. Actions don’t always have to be physical. Learning new information or skills, such as how to prepare healthy meals or train with weights, is an important part of the process.
Realistic
SMART goals are realistic. Planning to lose 5 kilo's in a month or planning to exercise one hour a day if you haven’t been exercising at all are unrealistic goals that will lead to failure. Take your time constraints and other limitations into account. Do make your goals somewhat challenging. Challenges can motivate you and keep you excited by having you stretch out of your comfort zone.
Time-Bound
Adding a deadline to your SMART goals is vital to success. If your weight loss goal is to lose a kilo per week for the next 12 weeks, you have a deadline to meet each week to help keep you focused and on track. When you successfully reach each goal, reward yourself. Treat yourself to a healthy lunch at a restaurant, a movie, a massage or a new book. It’s important to celebrate success.