GET SMART in 2019!
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my jo, For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp! And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
Yes, it is that time of year! New Year’s has arrived. Ushered in by
the famous Scottish tune written by Robert Burns. His song written in 1788, always
warms my heart as I remember friendships, past and present.
But with the new year comes that dreaded word: resolution. According to dictionary.com, a
resolution is a decision or determination; a firmness of purpose.
Who wouldn’t want to start the new year off with a bang by writing
down every firm decision they are determined to keep this year.
But when you look at research only half of the people who write resolutions
actually keep them. The average life span of a resolution is two to three
months.
What are some of the most
popular resolutions going into 2019?
The top resolutions
are exercise, lose weight, get organized, save money, spend less money, or
spend more time with family and friends.
Why do resolutions
have a short shelf life? Are the dreams of a perfect life too lofty? Too
difficult to maintain? Not really something a person wants?
I wonder if resolutions fail because they are too vague, which is
why I made a resolution to get SMART in 2019.
SMART goals help you
accomplish tasks by making them more manageable. It chunks long-term goals into smaller ones.
What do I want to accomplish
in 2019?
·
Write a book
·
Set up a website
·
Pitch my book at a conference
·
Learn more about the craft of fiction writing
To write a SMART goal
use the acronym to help you:
S-specific and simple
M-Measurable so you
can track your progress
A-Action-oriented by
including necessary steps
R-Realistic; make it
attainable with a little bit of a stretch
T-Time-bound-give
yourself a deadline.
Sound simple enough?
Let’s try it.
Desired
Accomplishment: Write a book.
SMART Goal: I want to
complete my manuscript by the end of 2019, by writing one chapter per month of
6,000 words by setting aside two hours every Tuesday or Wednesday to focus on
writing.
Now, I am not a
full-time writer. I have a day job and would
like to keep it, so I have to think of what is realistic. Even if it takes a little longer than I would
like. As a planner, I am aware that life
happens. Which is why I give myself a choice either a Tuesday or a
Wednesday. That way I can plan according
to life plans.
Desired
Accomplishment: Learn more about the craft of writing.
SMART Goal: I want to
develop my craft of writing by setting aside one hour each Wednesday or
Thursday to listen to a podcast or read a book about the craft of writing.
I could include a
podcast or book list, so I don’t waste time looking for the perfect one. Instead of having book lists buried inside of
conference notes, I have a quick and easily accessible one right at the bottom
of my SMART goal.
Now, writing SMART
goals are easy, but don’t forget accountability to make sure you accomplish
them.
Here is a list of
ways you can build accountability into your SMART Goals:
·
Post your goals on a bulletin board
·
Bullet journal- track them each month
·
Share your SMART goals with your critique group
·
Block out time on your calendar- either before a month starts or before
each week
·
Use boomerang for Gmail to set reminders
·
Use a task management app
·
Find an accountability partner
·
Dedicate time on your calendar to write
Finally, remember
SMART goals are not set in stone for life. Review them often. It can be weekly,
monthly, or quarterly. Figure out what
works best for you.
Let’s strive to be in
the group of people who achieve their goals in 2019!
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