Nearly 80% of people fail at their New Year’s resolutions by February. As the New Year begins, it is important to think about how exactly you will create goals that you can achieve. The best way to do this is through Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals, better known as “SMART” goals.

The first step is understanding what you are trying to achieve. It is important to identify specifically what is your end goal.
For example, rather than making your goal “to go to the gym,” it is more useful to set out exactly what it is you will do at the gym. For example, “Go to the gym and use the treadmill.”
You also need to find a metric to measure your goals. How can you know if a goal is achieved if you don’t know what achievement looks like? It is not enough to just say “Use the treadmill.” Instead, you should say, “Go to the gym three times a week and use the treadmill for 45 minutes.”
The next aspect of a SMART goal is to be sure it is attainable. While it is beneficial to set difficult goals that push your limits, it is important to distinguish between difficult and impossible. It is unrealistic and unattainable to say “Use the treadmill for two hours daily” if you are just starting to use it.
Additionally, it is important to make sure that your goals are relevant. It is pointless to set goals that don’t benefit you. If you already have a habit of using a stationary bike when you go to the gym, it may be irrelevant to set a goal of using the treadmill since you are already doing something similar.
The final and most pivotal aspect of SMART goals is making them time-bound. Procrastination can often get in the way and it is easy to delay tasks. That is why it is so important to set a time or time limit. Like the measurable facet of SMART goals, setting a time feature allows you to accomplish goals expeditiously. A good way to do this is to address the frequency with which you will use the treadmill. For example, “By the end of each week, I will go to the gym three times and use the treadmill for 45 minutes each time.”
While we have used a relatively simple goal of exercising, the structure of SMART goals can be applied to many personal and professional achievements. Use this formula to set your goals, and you are more likely to achieve them.