S.M.A.R.T. - O.F.-Part 3
This week, we are talking ‘action’, and we’re considering the application of ‘action’ in two critical ways.
First we will look at how to make a goal action-oriented, and second, which can sometimes be the more challenging step, is to how to take action on moving toward your goal.
A side note, there are versions of the SMART principle in which the “A” step is noted as “attainable” however, I find using both “attainable” and “realistic” somewhat redundant. After years of this work, I have found that people have the most trouble actioning their goals, so hence why the “A” step I choose to use “action”. Ok, let’s go!
How do you make sure your goal is action-oriented? This undervalued step is key to getting started and most importantly, staying with it.
It simply boils down to this:
what are you going to do, where will you do it and when will it be done
Too often a goal is set specifically (the ‘what’) but is missing the “where’ and ‘when’. For example, “I will start walking 10 mins a day”, is a specific goal with the ‘what’ included but there is still a lot of leeway here, leaving room for uncertainty. Uncertainty in your goals often gives rise to the “I will do it tomorrow” curse.
Adding the ‘where’ and ‘when’ adds certainty and specificity, leaving little wiggle room. How to add the ‘where’ and ‘when’ to a goal? Here’s an example:
“I will walk 10 mins a day, at 6am, at the park next door, starting on Monday. I will begin next week Monday, Wednesday, Friday and add on one additional day every other week.”
See how different that feels? You know exactly ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ you are to execute your goal.
And ensuring your goal is set up with well with the SMART principle, is the first step in our second application of action, that is, how to take sustainable action on your goal.
Alongside the successful set up with the SMART principle, are these three tips:
make your goal easy (walk at the park next door rather than going somewhere you have to drive to)
make your goal important. When you are walking more, what will you notice? How will you feel? More energy? Less stress? Make sure you’ve identified your ‘why’
stack your new activity on something which is already part of your routine. What are the steps you take when you wake up to the time you leave for work? Where does the walk fit best? Add your walk into this already existing routine, rather than changing the entire routine.
So, what do you think? Do you need to tweak anything you’ve been working on to add this action step?
Reach out if you need a hand: deanna@deannalangfordcoaching.com
Cheering you on!
Deanna