Hard to believe but we are already talking about the end of the year! We’re heading into October next week–the beginning of the final quarter of 2019, that time of year when you start to scratch your head and ask yourself two things:
1) How is the year nearly over already?!
2) Have I accomplished (or am I in the process of accomplishing) everything I hoped I would?
Hopefully the answer to #2 is a resounding yes. But if it’s not, don’t worry.
There’s still time to accomplish the goal or goals you set for yourself when the champagne was flowing in January!
To help, we’re here to offer you some goal-setting tips that are sure to get you moving—so that you can end the year with that gooooood feeling of knowing that you crushed your goals and are ready for all the new opportunities that await in 2020.
When setting goals, we like to use our own version of the SMART methodology, which we call SPURT.
SPURT goals are Specific, Possible, Uplifting, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Why the play on words, you ask?
Because a SPURT is defined as an increase of effort for a short period of time or distance. If we can see the light at the end of the tunnel we tend to stick things out. And, any goal you set will be a smart one—why else would you set it? 😉
Now, let’s get into the details…
A SPECIFIC goal is important so you know exactly what you’re aiming for. Start by identifying ONE specific goal. Even if it’s a BIG one, that’s okay because you can (and should) break it down into bite-size pieces.
A SPECIFIC goal is important so you know exactly what you’re aiming for. Find out how to set goals so that you can end the year with that gooooood feeling of knowing that you crushed your goals and are ready for all the new opportunities that await in… Click To TweetYour goal should be truly POSSIBLE, realistic and doable in respect to the amount of time and energy you have to commit to it. Ask yourself, is this goal truly reachable? Can you—or anyone—actually achieve this goal in the time span allotted? A goal to lose 30 pounds in 1 week isn’t achievable, for example. But setting a goal to lose 2 or 3 pounds a week in order to eventually lose 30 pounds is way more possible. The success of reaching your weekly goals will keep you motivated—and help you make them more attainable.
Also, figure out a concrete way to track (and see) your progress. Maybe you use a calendar or weekly calls with an accountability partner as your measurement tool. You may be surprised how fun it is to see your progress build up!
Make sure your goal is UPLIFTING. It’s so hard to work towards something if it doesn’t truly fill your spirit. Spend some time thinking through WHY you want to reach that goal. The WHY is super important because working towards any goal is hard, and, without a doubt, you will have days where that goal seems unattainable, and you’d love nothing more than to forget you ever set it! When you have a clear WHY, however, it will help you stay the course.
Keep the goal RELEVANT. We can only tackle and achieve so many new things at one time. So, when it comes to figuring out if your goal is relevant, ask yourself how your goal fits into your broader objectives at this time in your life. Does the goal support your purpose, vision and values? If it doesn’t, it will be impossible to achieve.
Last but not least, your goal should be TIME-BOUND. It’s important to have a sense of urgency that pushes you to accomplish it in a certain time frame. That’s why the fall is actually the perfect time to set goals—it provides plenty of time to get things done, with just the right amount of urgency to keep you from dragging your feet.
So, that’s it! When you follow the tips above, you’ll set yourself up for goal-setting success and take full advantage of this perfectly timed last-quarter “spurt” to end the year, and can ring in 2020 feeling like a champ.
Cheers to your success!