2019 Goals: Making them a reality

By: Lisa A. Nutt, MBA

REALTOR®, Keller Williams Southern Arizona

Happy New Year! 

For millions around the world, the New Year means a new start with new goals or new ways of doing things. In the U.S., between 40-45% of adults will make New Year’s resolutions. According to a survey conducted by Offers.com, in both 2018 and 2019, exercising more, saving money and traveling were the top resolutions. Consumers are becoming more money-conscious and interested in travel. But fitness remains the top resolution two years running. In Arizona, the #1 resolution for 2019 is travel (33%) and exercise was #2 (31%).

Despite our initial excitement and commitment, however, research tells us that 80% of our resolutions will fail by Valentine’s Day. So how can we achieve our goals in 2019 and every year afterwards?  Be S.M.A.R.T. 

The acronym first appeared in the November 1981 issue of Management Review. “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management goals and objectives.” was the title and it was written by George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham. Today S.M.A.R.T. goals are used by people all over the world for work/career goals, health goals, financial goals, and personal development goals, for example. They are:

S. – Specific: If you want to lose weight, how much weight by when? If you want to save money, how much money? Weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly?

M. – Measurable: What is your starting point? How can you track your progress? Write it down in a journal, your calendar, or an app on your phone.

A. – Assignable/Achievable: This means being realistic and feeling challenged at the same time. So, a twenty-pound weight loss in 6 months which may be healthfully done versus a fifty-pound weight loss in that same amount of time. Or, eating out once a week instead of five times a week.

R. – Realistic/Relevant: Are you making this change for you? Will it bring you lasting positive change? What is your why?

T. – Time based: Focus on a specific amount of time in which to complete the big goal. This means there are many smaller goals completed on the way there, every day, every week, every month and every year.

May 2019 bring success, health and happiness for you and your family.