Your Go-To Guide For Goal-Getting
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”
— Pablo Picasso
According to a University of Scranton study, only 8% of people that set goals on New Year’s actually accomplish them. Does that mean that 92% of the world are lazy, unmotivated losers? Not exactly. There is a science to setting goals that most people aren’t aware of. We gathered a few tips from goal-setting professionals to help you get better at doing your best.
USE THE S.M.A.R.T. MNEMONIC
Only the most worthy goals pass the S.M.A.R.T test.
SMART stands for:
S = Specific (or significant)
M = Measurable (or meaningful)
A = Attainable (or action-oriented)
R = Relevant (or rewarding)
T = Time-Bound (or trackable)
Instead of creating a general goal you’d like to achieve with no real deadline or purpose, try the S.M.A.R.T method. Instead of saying I’d like to go mountain climbing, be more focused on the specific details. Say “I’d like to climb Mount Everest before I turn 40 on December 7, 2027.” It’s a realistic goal with a realistic timeline. Although you may have to learn how to scale a mountain and how to survive in dangerous weather conditions, you’ve allowed yourself plenty of time to prepare for – and achieve – your goal.
BUILD A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM
High performers and productive people know when to ask for help. Find a good mentor, coach, or advisor that has already achieved what you’re trying to get done. Be polite, eager to learn, and have some flexibility to work around their schedule and you might find yourself with a powerful ally in your quest for success!
PRACTICE THE 52 / 17 RULE
Your high school football coach was a lot smarter than you thought! “Interval training” in sports is when you work at your peak performance for a set amount of time followed by a period of rest.
This same rule applies to kicking butt and taking names (a.k.a. goal-achieving).
Try 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of rest for optimal results. That’s the magic number for getting the highest level of productivity. You’re working smarter, not harder by taking frequent breaks during the day and getting more done.
GROOVE YOUR WAY TO MEETING YOUR GOALS!
Listening to music while you work is great to help keep you focused on the task at hand. The key is to find the right music that helps you focus. Are you more Mozart or Metallica? Everyone has their own style. You can also try background noise instead of music, which has been scientifically proven to sharpen your focus. There are even websites dedicated to providing high quality background noise to help you stay in the zone.
REWARD YOURSELF
When you finally accomplish that big goal, have a reward planned to celebrate your success. Book a massage, go to a movie, take a weekend trip – you earned it, so get out there and enjoy it.
Need a little help achieving your hopes and dreams? You can get your health and wellness up to speed with a short term goal that’s fun to do. Take our 90-Day Kickstart Challenge. Oh, and don’t fault us if you happen to make a little extra money on the side when you persuade your friends and family to do the 90-Day Kickstart Challenge with you!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Please see our Income Disclosure Statement.