Published on
Updated
Reading 2 min.
in collaboration with
Amélie Boukhobza (Clinical psychologist)
Who says new year, says new goals! But how to keep them (for good) this year? Focus on a revolutionary method that optimizes your chances of success.
It’s difficult to stick to your goals when fatigue and lack of time take over. However, a simple method to adopt allows you to boost your performance… An update on this intelligent mnemonic device.
Adapted and concrete objectives
Often used in business, the SMART method – created by Professor Peter F. Drucker in 1954, then popularized by George T. Doran – allows you to plan and achieve qualitative and quantitative objectives.
“I find this method very effective. This is exactly what I recommend to my patients, when I talk to them about the “weekly to do list”: few but clear objectives, a reasonable and not endless list of everything we have to do in the life… otherwise we risk facing failure more than success. Goals should also be slightly above what is called the zone of proximal development (comfort zone) because it is much easier to move forward little by little rather than to climb the mountain all at once.“, entrusts Amélie Boukhobzapsychologist.
The SMART method therefore has various advantages, such as being better prepared for your project(s), but also obtaining concrete results (over a specific period) and improving your chances of success.
Good in his body, good in his head!
The acronym SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) is structured around 5 well-defined criteria:
- “Specific”: your goal should be specific and clearly defined. For example, you shouldn’t say to yourself “I want to lose weight.” Be concrete by making an appointment with a nutritionist and establishing a suitable and balanced menu.
- “Measurable”: your desires and ideas must be “measurable”. In other words: you have to make sure you have a goal that you can measure, such as achieving, for example “3 marathons this year”.
- “Achievable”: Here you need to ask yourself if your goals are “attainable”. The best way to get discouraged is to be too ambitious and to face failure.
- “Relevant”: This is about being “relevant”. To stay on track, your goals must make sense in your life and meet your desires.
- “Time-bound”: Finally, your goals must be defined over time. To do this, set short, medium or long term deadlines.