PD,
Never put your goals in the negative, as in #2 --
DO NOT be late for work
Always state your goals in the positive. It's something to DO, not something to *not* do. Does that make sense?
Also, try this when you make goals.
It's an acronym -- a word in which every letter of the word stands for another word. It helps us remember.
We use SMART goals when we make goals.
SMART stand for:
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.
Time Bound -- 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 timeframe, "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.
Here's a template that may be helpful. And it's good for just about any type of goal you'd have!
My SMART Goal Date: SPECIFIC
My Specific Goal:
MEASUREABLE
How will my goal be measured?
How will I know when my goal is accomplished?
ATTAINABLE/ACTION ORIENTED
Is my goal challenge but still possible to achieve?
Actions required to achieve my goal:
REALISTIC/RELEVANT
Is my goal realistic within the resources at hand?
(Describe what I need to complete my goal. Review it regularly.)
Am I willing to commit to my goal?
Why do I want to reach this goal?
Is my goal relevant to my life purpose and my big picture?
Will achieving this goal help me lead the life that I want to have? How?
TIME BOUND
Is my goal trackable/tangible? Describe how.
When will my goal be reached?
I hope this helps!
Shalom!