Welcome to the new year. When we talk about a new year, there is one word that often comes to mind: resolutions.

What are resolutions? It is simply defined as a resolve to do something. The dictionary defines resolve as “to make a definite and serious decision to do something.” Wow sounds promising!

I don’t know about you but sometimes setting those New Year’s resolutions often feels pointless and by March each year I often might feel guilty that I have taken no action on those resolutions and by April they are completely gone out of my head and vocabulary for the year.

This year instead of making resolutions, let us set measurable goals that are more likely to lead to success in seeing your hopes and dreams come to fruition in 2022.

Now often, people set goals that are vague and unrealistic that may lead to frustration and decrease the likelihood of achieving the goal. Sounds like we are back to those resolutions. But wait there is hope. This year let us increase the chances of seeing your goals and dreams become reality by using a familiar acronym for reaching your goals.

This acronym is S.M.A.R.T. and it stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-sensitive. This method can be applied to a variety of goals, whether professional or personal, giving you the tools, you need to succeed in your goal-setting endeavors.

S = SPECIFIC

Be specific about what you want to accomplish. Think about this as the mission statement for your goal. This isn’t a detailed list of how you’re going to meet a goal, but it should include an answer to the who, what, when, where, which, and why questions.

M = MEASURABLE

This makes a goal more tangible because it provides a way to measure your progress. You should have a source of information to measure whether a goal has been achieved. Even if a perfect, direct measurement source is not immediately possible for a given goal, the discussion about the desired end result and what the measurement options are is very important.

A = ACHIEVABLE

Setting goals that can be accomplished within a certain timeframe will help keep you motivated and focused. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement. Think about this when determining the achievability of a goal.

How is the goal going to be accomplished?

Do you have the skills needed to accomplish this goal?

If you do not have the skills needed, consider what it will take to attain the needed skills.

R = RELEVANT

Ask yourself why the goal is important to you, how achieving it will help you and how it will contribute toward your long-term goals. If a goal doesn’t contribute toward your broader objectives, you might rethink it.

T = TIME-BASED

Let’s face it, anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you’re not going to succeed. Set manageable end-dates to each goal because this can help you prioritize each goal and provide you with proper motivation. If you haven’t achieved your goal in that timeframe, don’t beat yourself up over it. Take time to step back and consider why. Maybe the timeframe that goal was unrealistic, you might have run into unexpected roadblocks, or for some reason, your goal might have been unachievable.

So, this year as you ring in 2022, be SMART. Take some time to reflect on where you are now and where you want to be in 1, 3, or even 6 months from now. Write down your goals and post them where you can see them every day. Make sure to divide them into manageable goals that can be obtained. And don't forget to celebrate your wins with your friends, family, colleagues, and even The Pest Posse.