In this second part of this blog about New Year resolutions I will discuss how to plan resolutions according to the SMART technique. SMART is used in organizational psychology to create attainable goals and work towards achieving these goals.

It stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-based:

 

SPECIFIC: Resolutions should be simple and specific. For example, the general goal would be ‘to get fit’ but the specific one would be to walk for 50 minutes, 4 times a week or to attend a gym for an hour, 3 times a week.

MEASURABLE: Resolutions need to be measurable. This will help you stay on track, reach your target dates and feel good about yourself. For example: I want to spend more time with my partner is not measurable but I will have a 3 hourly weekly date night, is.

ATTAINABLE: Is the resolution acceptable to you? Is it difficult to achieve? It is really important that when we are planning our New Year resolutions we do not set up ourselves for failure by creating un-achievable goals.

REALISTIC: Is the goal you’re planning within your resources, knowledge and time? Do you need to further your training or your resources?

TIME-BASED: Creating a dead-line can help you switch into action. Keep the time-line realistic and flexible so that you can feel you are getting there.

Happy planning…

Anna Catania is a counsellor with Willingness. She has had a special interest in working with clients facing intimacy and sexual difficulties and runs a service for families going through cancer and chronic illness. She can be contacted on anna@willingness.com.mt

You can visit her profile on: https://zme.tec.mybluehost.me/willingnessmt/team/anna-catania/