With 2017 eagerly approaching us, let’s have a chit chat about those “New Year’s Resolution” things! Let’s be honest with ourselves, we’ve made them and we’ve failed them. It’s a great theory to start the year off right with a proactive life-changing goal, but most people have thrown them out the window by February which just leads to disappointment and frustration. So how can we use the year’s beginning to our advantage? Try turning those “resolutions” into S.M.A.R.T. goals! This acronym helps create a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Let me break that down into it’s parts:

SPECIFIC– Make sure it is something very direct. No wishy washy broad general stuff!
MEASURABLE– Basically, get some numbers in there! If you aren’t placing numerical value in your goal then it is probably not something that you can objectively measure.
ATTAINABLE– Is it something that you have the ability to accomplish? Don’t hold back on your ambitions but don’t grab for something that is a million miles out of your reach.
REALISTIC– Not only should it be something that with time can be done, but it must be something you actually want! Ask yourself if it something that you are with completely willing and ready to pursue.
TIMELY– Put a clock on it! Tell yourself exactly when this needs to be done!

SO…what does that actually look like? Here are two great examples that I think many people can relate to:
New Year’s Resolution – “I want a strict pull-up!”
SMART Goal – “By April of 2017 I want the ability to do one strict pull-up by doing three progressions each week starting January 1st.”

New Year’s Resolution – “I want to go on vacation!”
SMART Goal – “By March of 2017 I will book a week long vacation to Europe some time in the month of August and pay for it by opening a savings account for it and placing 2% of each paycheck into that account.”

The resolution seems daunting and without direction. The SMART goal has a built-in plan so you feel that it is a conquerable and doable thing! Try it out for yourself. Think of what you want out of life or CrossFit in the year 2017 and then turn that baby into a SMART goal! Write it down in a place where you can see it daily and then tell someone about it so they can help you stay accountable. No failed resolutions this year people!! Only thoughtful and successful New Year’s SMART Goals!

WOD
AMRAP 20:
50 double-unders
D&B bear crawls
2 x D&B walking lunges

161228 - Wednesdays with Coach Lauren