Do you want to lose 20 pounds? Do you want to learn to swim? Do you want to run a marathon? What do you want to achieve? List the goals you want to accomplish, no matter how small or large. Take the list of initial ideas, and then apply these principles:
Specific:
Describe what you want to accomplish in as much detail as possible. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do. Think of the WHAT, WHY, and HOW.
Measurable:
Use short term and mid-term goals to reach long term goals. Establish a method of measuring your progress and evaluating accomplishment. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement.
Attainable:
Your goal should require energy and discipline to accomplish, but do not make it so difficult that you cannot reach it. A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you.
Realistic:
Create goals you know you are actually capable of attaining. Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal reasonable. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment.
Timely:
Set a timeframe for the goal. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards. Write down the specific date you wish to reach your goal and re-evaluate along the way.
