Goals Have Dates, RIGHT?!

knewbill72

So, I've been on MFP for about 1.5 months now and it has been a great experience; looking forward to the future here as well. Since I joined I've noticed most MFPers have goals of some sort. What I find very interesting though is how many of those goals don't have dates.....

Why not I ask? How can most expect to attain a goal without a specific target date? I guess maybe it will just happen someday? I'm sure that's not what anyone wants. We typically want or goals obtained in the shortest amount of time possible but how can you measure it without a date.

It could be that some have a fear of failure and that if they don't hit a goal on time then that would diminish the achievements they did make trying to attain the goal. "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." - Les Brown

What's really great is when you set a goal and BEAT IT! It's one of my favorite reasons to set goals personally.

MFP gives us just everything we need to set goals properly and support to attain them.

Here's how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals. (Copied from http://www.topachievement.com/smart.html)

SPECIFIC- A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the six "W" questions:

*Who: Who is involved?
*What: What do I want to accomplish?
*Where: Identify a location.
*When: Establish a time frame.
*Which: Identify requirements and constraints.
*Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

EXAMPLE: A general goal would be, "Get in shape." But a specific goal would say, "Join a health club and workout 3 days a week."

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 exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goal.

To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as......How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

ATTAINABLE- When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

You can attain most any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them. When you list your goals you build your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these goals, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

REALISTIC- To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. A goal can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be. But be sure that every goal represents substantial progress. A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force. Some of the hardest jobs you ever accomplished actually seem easy simply because they were a labor of love.

Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished. Additional ways to know if your goal is realistic is to determine if you have accomplished anything similar in the past or ask yourself what conditions would have to exist to accomplish this goal.

TIMELY- A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 lbs, when do you want to lose it by? "Someday" won't work. But if you anchor it within a time frame, "by May 1st", then you've set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the goal.

T can also stand for Tangible - A goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of the senses, that is, taste, touch, smell, sight or hearing. When your goal is tangible you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus attainable.


BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR GOAL ACHIEVEMENT!!

jeffrodgers1

Excellent Post!

OLP76

I was never one to really set Goal dates on things...:grumble: I prefer just 'wingin'' it...but I understand what you are sayin'...

I want to lose this next 5 lbs by the end of April...! Yay, thanks to your post - I have set a Goal Date...Lose 5 lbs by the end of April - IF NOT SOONER...!

Tony Horton's 'BRING IT' book will be in my hands...! :laugh:

Great post - Your 'X - Sista' Xoo Oxx

wanttogetskinny

I personally have a goal of losing 20lbs. I have no date associated because I realize it may take me longer than a normal person. I have Type 1 diabetes, so have to use insulin. Exogenous insulin use makes it hard to lose weight unless eating super low-carb (like 30g of carbs or less a day), which I refuse to do. So while my goal is to lose a lb a week, I realize it may take me twice that long. I don't have a date in mind - as long as I am continuously losing (even if only ounces a week) - IT'S SOMETHING, and it's in the RIGHT direction. It's more about retraining myself with healthier eating and portion-size habits than about attaining a specific weight by a specific date.

Losershawn

Thanks!

RedBone03

great post!!!!!

DeBlue

Excellent points - I'm guilty! Will fix this and get with making it happen. Five # gone by May 1 is much more meaningful than someday. :bigsmile:

Qarol

Ah, SMART goals. Makes me twitch b/c they push those every year here at work. And writing goals at work, especially those that fit into all 5 categories, is not my favorite thing.

Regardless, awesome post. I like to plan how I'm going to achieve my weight loss goals. I like to know HOW I'm going to do it, rather than just saying I want to do it. But goals are personal for everyone. And if setting a date seems too daunting to some, then that's OK.

What I find more disturbing are goals that are not really realistic, like trying to lose 14 pounds in a month.

epj78

You are absolutely right. My job has a focus on workforce development and teaming. You will not believe how many times goals are stated that aren't S.M.A.R.T -- it is the #1 thing I have to do refresher training on. I have 3 SMART weight loss goals --- they are as follows:

By eating healthy (and netting under 1500 calories a day) and exercising (minimum 10,000 steps a day), lose 13 pounds by my Goddaughter's baptism (May 8, 2011).

By eating healthy (and netting between 1200 and 1300 calories a day) and exercising (minimum 10,000 steps a day and C25K), lose additional 20 pounds by July 4, 2011 (total of 33 pounds).

Continue all healthy eating habits and exercising habits to maintain weight or lose additional 10 pounds through October 31, 2011)

Reevaluate weight loss and fitness goals on October 1, 2011.

Jordynnsmom

Hi,
I am one of those who didn't put a date. I have a personal timeline for my total weight loss which is to be at my goal weight by December of this year. I have to order my wedding dress in February 2012. I never really thought of setting specific dates for my mini goals because I have some health issues and life happens. I run a home business and I had a ton of very specific goals and when my health issues(Thyroid removal) came into play it absolutely tore me apart and sent me into a depression because I felt like I failed. I have since set new business goals, but they are a little more flexable than before. My weight loss goals are there, but not as strict.
Reading your reasons for setting specific goals was a kick in the pants (a good one) I will be setting some specific weight loss goals and try my best to acheive them! Thank you;)

ashleyplus3

Thanks for this Jackson! I'm printing this off so that I can SET specific goals with actual dates for myself. I am totally guilty of just half assing this thing and not giving dates to my goals - and not really having specific goals other than losing weight. I have a friend on here who has been on MFP 20 days longer and has lost almost 40 pounds!! I've been on here 75 days and have lost a measly 8 pounds!! :noway: She has a very specific goal (a wedding) and everyday she's working out and eating within her calories, and I'm kind of in awe. BUT, I can do this too - maybe what has been missing for me is a a timeline and more specific goals like you said in your post. I'm on it!!!

knewbill72

I personally have a goal of losing 20lbs. I have no date associated because I realize it may take me longer than a normal person. I have Type 1 diabetes, so have to use insulin. Exogenous insulin use makes it hard to lose weight unless eating super low-carb (like 30g of carbs or less a day), which I refuse to do. So while my goal is to lose a lb a week, I realize it may take me twice that long. I don't have a date in mind - as long as I am continuously losing (even if only ounces a week) - IT'S SOMETHING, and it's in the RIGHT direction. It's more about retraining myself with healthier eating and portion-size habits than about attaining a specific weight by a specific date.

I never implied that goals had to be specific to weight. Goals NEED a definitive date to make them definitive otherwise most will not accomplish them.

knewbill72

Thanks for this Jackson! I'm printing this off so that I can SET specific goals with actual dates for myself. I am totally guilty of just half assing this thing and not giving dates to my goals - and not really having specific goals other than losing weight. I have a friend on here who has been on MFP 20 days longer and has lost almost 40 pounds!! I've been on here 75 days and have lost a measly 8 pounds!! :noway: She has a very specific goal (a wedding) and everyday she's working out and eating within her calories, and I'm kind of in awe. BUT, I can do this too - maybe what has been missing for me is a a timeline and more specific goals like you said in your post. I'm on it!!!

You are welcome! Don't beat up yourself too much; you are getting better every day!!

knewbill72

Hi,
I am one of those who didn't put a date. I have a personal timeline for my total weight loss which is to be at my goal weight by December of this year. I have to order my wedding dress in February 2012. I never really thought of setting specific dates for my mini goals because I have some health issues and life happens. I run a home business and I had a ton of very specific goals and when my health issues(Thyroid removal) came into play it absolutely tore me apart and sent me into a depression because I felt like I failed. I have since set new business goals, but they are a little more flexable than before. My weight loss goals are there, but not as strict.
Reading your reasons for setting specific goals was a kick in the pants (a good one) I will be setting some specific weight loss goals and try my best to acheive them! Thank you;)

The challenges we face make are goals that more important! It's the battles, struggles, and failures along the way the really give them meaning! Best of luck!!!

knewbill72

You are all over it!! AWESOME!!