Every New Year, almost all of us engage in the yearly ritual of setting ourselves a New Year’s resolution. Resolution is basically a promise to oneself towards self-improvement which is an outcome of one’s own reflection. This year, let’s set a SMART resolution.
Reflection
Today, let’s take this opportunity to reflect back on our habits, our mindsets, our priorities, our needs & desires, our strengths, and our achievements. So, sit down in solitude penning down every small achievement you‘re proud of, in parallel write what habits let you achieve these successes, also write down the names of the people who helped you do that, the struggles you overcame, and probable areas of improvement if any.
The important thing to remember is not to dismiss even small successes; it could be as small as drinking enough water or being able to wake up 5 minutes earlier than usual.
Now, look at the list and be extremely proud of yourself! You should pat yourself and definitely celebrate each of your wins! And don’t just celebrate one day, make this a long celebration.
Mindful and SMART Resolutions – 2020
With the reflection list in your hand, you can reflect on the areas where you would genuinely want to work. And have a good sense of your resources and imitation. With this in mind, write down the goal or goals you want to achieve in 2020. Mindful Resolution should always have elements of SMART goals. This is going to be extremely meaningful and we promise that it will help you break down your goals into simple achievable steps that would be comparatively easy to achieve. (In case you are wondering what is a SMART goal – it is a Specific, Measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound resolution)
SMART is an acronym coined in the journal Management Review in 1981 for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. It may work for management, but it can also work in setting your resolutions, too.
Is your goal Specific?
Your goal has to be very clear, as clear as the year 20/20. Here try and answer the W’s of the goals; that is What do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important? Who is involved? Where is it located? Which resources or limits are involved?
For example, instead of writing down, “I want to be fit in 2020”. Break down your goal to “I will go to an XYZ gym for 4 days a week for an hour daily; I will do a mix of aerobics and muscle training to be able to lose 5 kgs of weight and strengthen my body muscles. And I will need $….. for a gym subscription.
Is your goal Measurable?
This means you should be able to measure the success of it over a given period of time. Being able to assess your progress will keep your spirits motivated and you will find yourself to be extremely motivated as well. Just ask yourself, when will you know you’ve achieved it.
For example, you could have a goal that says “I will stop a bad habit, this year” it could be smoking or drinking less alcohol, etc. You can measure the success of it by keeping track of how many drinks you had in the month or a week. Take it easy on yourself, gradually move towards your goal.
Is your goal Achievable?
Ask yourself, can I achieve this goal in my current stage of life? Will this goal be achievable with the time schedule I work in? If not, what will I have to change? What might be the constraints towards achieving this goal? Remember Time management plays a huge part in this. Like always, take it one step at a time. Experiment with your time schedule and energy level at different periods. Every human being has a graph of energy and focus, if you are a morning person, prioritize accordingly and get a good night’s sleep. Likewise, if you work better in the evenings, plan your meals and sleep keeping that in mind.
For example, You might say you’ll read one book every month, This might seem realistic but you will only know when you start reading the first month. You can adjust this goal according to how much you actually can manage to do.
Is your goal Relevant?
Here is when we want you to take your reflection sheet in hand and ask yourself, do you really want to do this? Is this something you are doing out of your peer pressure or for yourself? Are you interested in this goal and putting in the effort will make you happy? A goal that is relevant will automatically give you more motivation to reach it or put your maximum effort into it.
For example, another common goal people keep is learning a new skill, what is this skill you want to learn and why? How will this skill help you or affect your life? Of course, this is very subjective to people, but make sure that you know what is influencing you to set this goal and how relevant it is.
Is your goal Time-based?
Deadlines can be very effective for many, the good stress which is also called eustress motivates people. When you set a start date and an end date to your goal, you build a sense of urgency. Eustress can be uncomfortable but leads to personal growth. You should also take a break every time you think you’ve reached your goal. Rewarding yourself for the small steps you take to get closer to your goal can motivate you more.
For example, another common goal people keep is “I will save money this year” how much will you save and by when? How much will you have to save every month or week? This will help you track your progress and understand yourself better.
Important Tips
After completing this exercise, first, celebrate how SMART you are! But we definitely urge all of you to celebrate your personal victories, because no one else understands what it took to accomplish them.
It’s an end of one chapter of your life and the beginning of a new chapter, a year with a vision as clear as 20/20! Remember that if everyone is setting resolutions but setting a SMART resolution and sticking to it is the real goal! Sometimes we get lost in this journey and it’s very normal for humans to do so. Use one of the many self-help tools that Wysa offers and start afresh!
This year, set SMART goals and crush them! It’s your year!
