Many times in life, we have heard or said the phrase: “The hardest part is just getting started!” We would definitely agree with that. However, another frequently mentioned phrase is: “Even the longest journey begins with a single step.”
So, the question arises: “What is that first step, and how do we take it?” The answer is: you need to set goals properly!
In fact, goals are exceptionally powerful motivators of our behavior. If we don’t know where we want to go, our destination will definitely slip away from us very quickly. Countless times we have set goals like: “I will lose weight,” “I will exercise,” “I will give it my all,” “I will try as hard as I can,” or “I will become a better athlete”… All of these goals have one thing in common: they are not set properly. When goals are not properly set, we cannot follow them, and they fail to motivate us.
A popular, scientifically proven theory of goal setting states that every well-set goal must meet the so-called SMART criteria.
SMART criteria:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Relevant (or personally important)
T – Time-bound
Let’s take it step by step. The first thing that is important to keep in mind, aside from the SMART criteria, is that goals need to be precisely written down. Some goals are short-term and can be reached quickly, while others are long-term. If we don’t write them down, there is a high probability we won’t remember them exactly, and then the entire theory of goal setting falls through.
Furthermore, it is extremely important for our goals to be as specific as possible. It is very easy to make a mistake at this stage by setting a broad and vague goal. When a goal is set along the lines of: “I will give it my all at practice,” it becomes very easy to lose track of achieving it. It is necessary to determine the exact segments we will work on and the way we are going to achieve them.
Next, we must decide how we will measure whether the goal has been achieved or not. For example: “I will do 5 sets x 25 sit-ups.” This way, we know exactly where we currently stand—meaning, how successful we are in achieving our goal. Consequently, our motivation increases, and reaching the goal feels much more attainable.
The next step is to make sure our goal is attainable and personally important to us. Therefore, we set goals before starting an activity and, if possible, in agreement with another person to be as objective as possible. There is not much point in setting a goal that we cannot possibly achieve and that has no personal significance to us. On the other hand, it also makes no sense to set a goal that isn’t challenging enough to motivate us to achieve it.
The final task is to place our goal within a well-defined timeframe. In other words, we need to give ourselves a realistic amount of time to fulfill that goal.
Ultimately, when that time runs out, it is time for evaluation – looking back to see whether we achieved the goal. If the answer is positive, we reflect on what we did well and keep moving forward, but this time even better. However, if the answer is negative, we look at where we went wrong and adjust our approach to achieving the goal. Evaluation is a step we must never skip, because it is the foundation upon which we plan our next steps and set our new, properly structured goals!
