How To Set SMART Family Resolutions

{Blog post from 12/30/2015}

It’s that time of year again. 2015 is coming to a close and people everywhere sit in quiet contemplation wondering what they can do better in the year to come. Want to finally use that gym membership you’ve had for 3 years? Or, maybe you want the whole family to cut down screen time and increase face time. Whatever desires live deep in your soul, this is the time to awaken them to the possibility of realization.

Recently, when on a business trip, my colleagues and I were asked to each come up with 3 personal goals that we hope to achieve by next year’s time. Although having little to do with the New Year, and more with team building, each of us sealed our goals in an envelope that will magically appear at next year’s meeting for appraisal. Now, if you’re anything like me (and probably most of the world), it’s fairly easy to come up with a list of things that I want to change – or do better – at any given time. Such a curious part of the human condition is an innate sense of constant dissatisfaction that fuels a hunger and determination for a better tomorrow. But, the New Year is a wondrous time of new beginnings and the perfect time to set goals – and a plan to stick to them – for the whole family!

But achieving a goal isn’t simply a matter of hard work and sheer determination; it starts with the goal setting process itself. So, in the last days of 2015, bring the family together to create New Year’s Resolutions using the SMART method. Building resolutions that the whole family can stick to, while supporting one another, is an important part of ensuring lasting changes. And, everyone can work together toward becoming a happier, healthier, more united family in 2016.

THE SMART RESOLUTION METHOD

S – Specific
A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general one. Focus on resolutions that are detailed and specific. Try to avoid resolutions that are too general and make it hard to identify what needs to be done and how. While common resolutions revolve around “getting in shape” and “losing weight,” these are very general statements. Without specific goals, it’s hard to know which path you will follow and you’ll find yourself falling into old habits rather quickly. Instead, narrow your resolution to a more specific – or series of smaller, more specific –goals. “Lose 10 pounds by April 1^st” is a specific goal that better identifies what you are trying to achieve. The more specific the resolution, the more measurable and attainable it becomes.

M – Measurable
Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the excitement of achievement that occurs from continued effort to reach your goal. Part of setting a SMART goal is understanding how it will be measured and knowing how and when it will be accomplished.

A – Attainable
When you identify resolutions that are important to you, you begin to figure out ways that you can actually achieve them. You develop attitudes, abilities, skills and an overall capacity to make them come true. You can attain almost any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a timeframe that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have once seemed far away and out of reach eventually seem close and become attainable – not because your dreams shrink, but because you are working hard and growing to reach them. The longer you stick with the steps you have laid out to achieve your resolution, the more attainable the goal becomes.

R – Realistic
Your resolution is most likely realistic if you believe that it can be accomplished, and you are the only one that can determine how high the goal should be. However, to be realistic, a resolution must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. If, for example, your child wants to achieve better grades, he/she must be willing to work toward getting them and able to achieve the goal set. If your child performs poorly in math, it may be unrealistic to raise a D grade to an A grade in one semester. Instead, be realistic about the goal setting. Any improvement in grades is a positive one and will encourage your child to continue to do better throughout the school year. It’s easier to set a series of smaller, more realistic goals that can achieved gradually over time – and this will give your child a boost in confidence, giving them the motivation to continue toward the next objective.

T – Timely
Like the specific part of the goal setting process, your resolution should be grounded within a time frame. When you set a resolution that has no specific time frame tied to it, there’s no sense of urgency and the resolution loses its measurability. If you want to lose ten pounds, when do you want to lose it by? Just saying “lose ten pounds” will unlikely work because it does not set your goal in motion. Allowing yourself a timeframe means that you will feel the need to start working toward that resolution, and creating an environment of greater success. Having a resolution like “Lose ten pounds by April 1” will give a time frame that not only makes the resolution measurable, but also creates that sense of urgency and determination to achieve the goal.

(S – Support)
Now, I like to add in another S in the end of the goal setting process for Support. Setting resolutions as a family means that you have a network of support throughout the journey to achieve the goal – your very own cheerleaders! Allow family members and friends to support your efforts, help you along your journey, and encourage you when you experience challenges trying to reach your goal. Hold yourself and your family accountable by tracking your progress throughout the year and work together to stay on track toward your resolutions. And, don’t forget to celebrate! Take the time to really acknowledge what each of you has accomplished – it will foster an appreciation for the hard work you’ve put in and provide determination to continue on your resolution journey!

Creating New Year’s resolutions as a family can help you work toward common goals and bond while facing challenges together. Having an already-created network of support not only holds you accountable for the resolutions you create, but also gives you motivation and encourages you to work toward achieving your goal. Try to have the whole family create SMART resolutions (individually or as a whole), check your progress regularly, and celebrate even the smallest of successes.

Best of luck for a happy and healthy 2016 and may the resolutions we make set us up for continuous success in the New Year.

To continuously strive for excellence in customer service and support through increased employee incentives, training programs, and customer satisfaction awareness. We encourage our customers to share their comments or concerns throughout the year in order to appropriately resolve any issues that may arise. We are not perfect. But, we will continue to work toward ensuring that each and every person we come in contact with walks away with a smile and complete satisfaction. If you are not happy, we are not happy.
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