Goal-Setting 101
So, last week BlogHer kicked off the 2008 Good-Health-A-Thon - a fantastic idea for those of us who require peer-pressure to stay focused. Or you know, get a focus.
I have no focus! I am focus-free! Laller laller laller laller laller laller laller
I also have very little muscle tone, after a winter spent in my closet. I also have little color in my skin, due to a diet of decaf coffee and whatever the kids don't finish on their plates.
So, perhaps I need to do something about it.
Kristy recommends following the S.M.A.R.T. method of goal setting. Now, anyone who has been reading here for a while knows that I'm all about going overboard, and quickly burning out.
I will be Queen of Irish Dance!
I will be master of the Trampoline!
I will be a Prima Ballerina!
I will be a Hula Hooping Champion!
I will be THE FONZ!
And then there was the whole Big Slice thing.
So, how, HOW will I overcome my need to BE THE WINNER?
S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.
This is pretty much the opposite of my entire goal-setting philosophy, which seems to be Vague, Indistinct, Yeah Right, Are You Kidding Me and TOTALLY NOT HAPPENING.
And my raging success over here really proves my method nicely, but let's humor the gals over at BlogHer and try it their way.
So, I need a specific goal where the progress is measurable, the goal is attainable, the undertaking (I just typed undertanking - YOU SEE?) is do-able and it can work with my current life.
You know I'm over here itching to type something like "I will eat only organic Mediterranean cuisine with vegetables grown (by me - hahahahahaha!) in my own garden AND I will never drive unless my destination is more than 5 miles away. I will also defeat world terrorism. And floss."
So - one goal. One specific goal that I can complete and say - done. And then next week, I'll add a new goal. Maybe. See? I'm already upping the ante on myself. Focus, Jenny. Easy, girl.
Here we go: I will walk my older children to school at least three days each week, weather permitting.
There! That wasn't so hard. I can do that.
What are you doing?
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Comments
I too am starting small: I'm going to take my vitamins. This is a big little thing, because I really hate taking vitamins (they tend to make me nauseous). But maybe if I take them, I won't catch so many colds, etc.
Posted by: Donna | January 12, 2008 6:44 PM
I did not know that method was called S.M.A.R.T. but that is how I set my goals too. You can see mine at: http://jenyiferh.blogspot.com/2008/01/obligator-new-years-post.html
Posted by: Jenni | January 12, 2008 9:03 PM
Ooh, another good 'un. I'm supposed to take a B complex vitamin and a few other things and I always gag - I can't even do a multivitamin because my body just can't handle that much goodness in one shot.
Posted by: Jenny
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January 13, 2008 9:46 AM
The perfect is the enemy of the good. This is my mantra. And walking the kids 3 days a week is a BIG goal. I would start with 1 day, depending on how far it is. My son's school is 1.7 miles away and I try to walk one-way twice a week and SOMETIMES I make it.
I tend to overdo things, too, (my original goal for walking was EVERY! DAY!) because I don't trust myself to continue to do something, so if I start small, the change is (in my mind) so negligible as to hardly be worth it. So I'm trying to make babysteps too. It's hard. Because world terrorism? I CAN FIX THIS, JUST LET ME AT 'EM.
Really! So long as it can be done in, um, a week, before I forget about it...
Posted by: Missy | January 14, 2008 9:03 AM
I think you should schedule in some laller laller lallering too. It's clearly beneficial and I like it when you write laller laller laller.
Posted by: Nancy R | January 16, 2008 11:45 AM