It’s the time of year when New Years Resolutions are in full swing and a fresh start for everyone is ahead. Has anyone ever wondered how many people stick with their New Years’ resolution for the whole year? Out of about 800 million people that make resolutions each year only 8% of people stick with them for the whole year. Read on to learn more about what a SMART goal is how to make SMART resolutions that will stick throughout the year.

Healthy Tip Tuesday is brought to you in partnership with Trinity Health Systems.

What does it mean when someone says SMART goals? It is an acronym for the following:

S-Specific (simple or sensible)

M- Measurable (meaningful, motivating)

A-Achievable (attainable)

R-Relevant (reasonable, realistic, results-based)

T- Time-based (time-limited, time-sensitive)

Often times goals or resolutions are big unattainable achievements that no one can realistically reach within a certain time frame. Lose one hundred pounds in a year, eat more fruits and vegetables, get healthier, stop buying stuff, or read more. But what does that all really mean, and how does one go about doing that?

Some may be thinking: “I want to lose one hundred pounds in a year”. That does give a time frame for the goal, but let’s ask some questions about the goal.

Is it truly sensible or feasible? What will one do to ensure they are able to work out and eat in a manner to lose that much weight.

How are you going to measure that goal? Remember to be specific. Weekly weight checks, accountability, etc.

Is it realistic to this much weight in that short of a time frame? That is a lot of pressure to put on a single person. Could one push the goal down to fifty pounds in a year, and if that goal is met set a new one?

There is something to be said about making SMART goals and allowing them to be smaller in size. There is no rule that says after a person reaches their New Years Resolution they have to be done. Perhaps checking off that attained goal is greeted with such amazing results that a person wants to try another resolution that will lead to lasting change.