The Superior Express -

Ever made a New Year’s Resolution? Ever kept one past January 31? If you have, celebrate! Many resolutions don’t make it that long and many more aren’t the permanent change the resolvers sought.

How can we make a resolution and keep it? One way is to make a SMART resolution. SMART goals, objectives, plans or resolutions have been around since the acronym originated in a 1981 Management Review publication.

In the acronym SMART, the S stands for Specific. A resolution needs to be specific not vague. “Lose weight” is not specific but “I will lose four pounds in January.” is specific. “Exercise more” is not specific but “I will walk 15 minutes six days a week each month during 2022.” is a specific resolution. So, make a specific resolution about something you wish to accomplish. Such as, “I will read a book each month in 2022.”

The M in SMART stands for Measurable. Can you tell if you succeeded? Did you lose four pounds? If so, you succeeded. Did you walk 15 minutes, six days a week in January? Success! If, on January 31st, I have read a book – I am on the road to success.

The next letter, A, in SMART is for Achievable. For most, walking ten miles every day is not achievable and a resolution such as that would simply set someone up for failure. For many, walking 15 minutes a day is achievable and that resolution would be one that could be successful. For me, reading a book a month is achievable and time will tell if I accomplish it.

Reasonable is the R in SMART. It means that the resolution is one that is really important to the individual. A whim, a fancy or an annoyance is not something upon which to base a successful resolution. Is it important to you to improve your fitness? Really important? Do I really want to read more books and to read one a month? Yes, reading a book a month is something I want to do.

The last letter in SMART, the T, stands for Time-Bound. This just means there is a timeline associated with the resolution. “Losing four pounds in January.” has a timeline. It is also a timeline on which another month might be added. “Walking 15 minutes a day, six days a week in each month.” has a timeline. There is a timeline built into “I will read a book each month in 2022.”

What do you want to accomplish in 2022? Don’t select several things, too many just put one on the road to failure. Be specific, select one or maybe two. Write your resolution down so it is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, Time-Bound, just simply SMART. You then have a start on a resolution that can be kept!