As 2022 begins, texts, emails, and social media feeds will be flooded with resolutions. “New year, new you” can actually be feasible and a lot easier to achieve by creating SMARTER goals. Try this method to step up your resolution game.

• Specific- What exactly do you want to achieve? Is it to decrease your run time? Read more books? Set a specific number and goal.


• Measurable – Is there a way to measure your progress? Smartphone apps are available literally at your fingertips and old-fashioned tallying and journaling can work just as well.


• Achievable – Is this achievable? There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, but if your goal isn’t really attainable, it may be smart to revise it.


• Relevant – How is this relevant and beneficial to your career or personal life? Having a personal connection will help drive your motivation to achieve your goals.


• Time frame – In what time frame would you like to achieve this goal? Setting a specific date will help keep you on track and prevent you from procrastinating.


• Evaluate – What worked? What didn’t? What are some things you’d do differently? There are always ways to improve for future goals.


• Reward – Rewards help build sustainable habits---treat yourself! Positive reinforcement helps fire the happy juices in your brain, encouraging you to achieve even more goals. Buy the shoes, indulge in your favorite meal--you’ve earned it!

Setting and achieving goals helps us focus and gives our lives meaning and direction. With this tool, you can be SMARTER and achieve your dreams--big, small, and everything in between.