Posts tagged "Courney Hale"

Overcoming Holiday Hangover

By the time you read this article, you will have realized that you are:

  1. 15lbs heavier as a result of your binge holiday feasting and
  2. Broke as a result of being twenty-five dollar’d to death from buying Christmas gifts for your loved ones.

Do not be alarmed. You along, with millions of other Americans, are showing the symptoms of the Holiday Hangover. The initial symptoms are physical and financial regret, followed by a week of strategic planning for preventing being in the same position again at this time next year. The Holiday Hangover is like a virus; it cannot be treated, it has to run its course and you can only hope you don’t catch it again. The key to building immunity against this virus lies within the strategic plan you set for yourself next year.
To the over-simplistic mind, this sounds like I am encouraging New Year’s resolutions, but I am not. New Year’s resolutions are so 2012. Besides, depending on whom you ask, 65-90% of Americans break their New Year’s resolutions. So, to paraphrase one of my favorite quotes, if you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done. This year we will simply call them GOALS. Now that’s a novel idea!! Establishing goals doesn’t have the same commercial appeal as setting New Year’s resolutions, but it is much more effective.
There is a strategy to setting goals whether it’s for the New Year or related to your personal growth. When setting goals, be sure they meet the SMART criteria.

S – First, your goal should be “Specific”. Goals should be straightforward and should specify what you intend to achieve. Your goal should be well defined.

M – Next, you want your goal to be “Measureable”. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set.

A – Your goal needs to be “Attainable”. When identifying a goal, it needs to be something you can
realistically accomplish. If you set goals that are too far out of reach, you probably won’t fully commit to working towards them.

R – Be sure your goal is “Relevant”. This term stresses the importance of choosing goals that matter. A
relevant goal can answer yes to these questions: Does this seem worthwhile? Is this the right time? Does this match your other efforts and needs? Are you the right person?

T – Lastly, it is important to establish a timeframe for your goals. Setting a time limit for your
goals gives you a clear target to work towards. If you don’t set a timeframe, the commitment can be too vague. Achieving the goal tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now.

At the end of every year, millions of people vow that the next year they will be smaller, richer, smarter and braver.  But somewhere around March, 65-90% of people lose their motivation and by Thanksgiving they realize that they are still the same person from 12 months ago. In 2013, I challenge all our readers to utilize every ounce of your inner strength and embrace a level of discipline that you never have before. For 2013, set SMART goals instead of dumb resolutions and by this time next year the best gifts you will have given will be the ones you set for yourself today.