To Your Health
May, 2010 (Vol. 04, Issue 05) |
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Instead of working twice as hard to earn more, it's easier to improve your bottom line by simply spending less. Is this an attainable goal? Sure! Buy in bulk from wholesalers and save on all kinds of everyday items you and your family use frequently.
Watch for special offers and use discount codes whenever possible. Also re-evaluate what you have purchased in the past and ask yourself if purchasing the same item(s) is the best choice moving forward.
Reasonable
both the short and long term. Create a separate "do-able" action plan for each project by making a list of two short-term and two long-term goals related to the project. Next, list the tasks required to complete each short-term and long-term goal. By outlining your goals and each task needed to achieve them, you will have created a detailed blueprint to navigate your course. The key here, of course, is to make sure you are using reasonable methods to attain your goals.
Part of your action plan for losing weight might include getting some form of exercise every day, drinking more water and using smaller plates. Are these lifestyle changes reasonable and sustainable? If so, you are on your way to permanently achieving your goal. If not, you'll need to determine what steps are reasonable to you. Perhaps it's more reasonable if you allow yourself one "cheat" day a week. Is setting aside $50 a week reasonable for moving you toward your financial goals? If not, how about $20 a week? Again, you must find what works for your specific situation.
Timely
To successfully achieve your goals, you must set completion dates. Setting timelines for each task gives you clear targets and deadlines. Without completion dates, your goal will always be open ended and much more likely to remain unachieved. Set a realistic time frame for completion and move forward every day until your goal is reached.
Evaluate
To determine if you are on track toward accomplishing your goals, you should review and evaluate your efforts many times a day; at least at first. The more you review your goals and focus on the actions you need to take to achieve them, the sooner your goals will become a reality. Continually evaluating your progress will also help reveal your weak points and identify the areas that need improving. This process also helps you evaluate if your time and efforts are being spent wisely. One rule of thumb is to focus 80 percent of your time and energy on 20 percent of the things that produce the greatest results. This is also known as the 80/20 rule.
Reorganize
Once you have determined what works and what doesn't, make the necessary adjustments to your approach to maintain focus and stay on track. Continue to regroup and reorganize your efforts until you know you are on a stable path toward success. If something isn't helping you achieve a particular goal, rethink the process and find a better way.
The SMARTER approach to achieving your goals is similar to cooking. First you need to know what you are cooking (Specific). Then you pull together the amounts (Measurable) of each ingredient (Attainable), and bake everything at a specific temperature for a determined (Reasonable) length of time (Timely). Then you taste (Evaluate) the food and finally decide how you will modify (Reorganize) your recipe to improve on your next attempt. Have fun with the process, and please let me know about your progress as you apply the SMARTER approach to achieving your goals in all the areas of your life. Good luck!
David Kent, LMT, NCTMB, is a massage therapist, writer, educator and international lecturer. He practices in Deltona, Fla., and is the founder and president of Kent Health Systems.
