It's about that time now, to be completely honest it's been about that time for about a month in my book.
Whenever the worst of the August heat hits I am usually the first to stand up and yell "I DECLARE FALL!"
It is my favorite time of year hands down, everything from the new fashion that comes out with cozy cable knit sweaters and flannel shirts to pumpkin spice lattes and crisp evenings by a lit fireplace. I loooove it!
But I think one of the best things about it is the quasi new year feeling. I mean it's not new years eve but to me it feels like even more of a fresh start.
After summer break or vacation we gear up for so many new things whether it's a new job, new studies and
projects or personal goals summer is a time of dreaming of the future and fall is when we put those plans into action! Some dreams are just dreams but the ones we single out need to shift from passive dreaming into progressive plans if we ever want them to be realized. So in this it is important that we make that transition and say you know what I am going somewhere with this and this is how I'm going to do it.
Something I use on a regular basis is SMART Goals when I plan what direction I want to move to get to where I want to go. Statistics show us that those who map out and make a plan are much more likely to get to where they want to go rather than if it's all just wishful thinking and "I really want this to happen"
Bottom line is it's not gonna happen unless you make it happen and work in a direction that will take you there. Our choices and actions will do one of two things. Either it will bring you closer to your goal or it won't. Being aware of this helps when we have a clear vision of what it is we want to achieve, and SMART goals help us map things out so we don't get lost or distracted on our way there.
So what are SMART goals?
SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. Which is how we are going to break down that goal, be it professional, academic or personal. Defining what it is and why is key.
Specific:
Be specific when you are defining your goal, it's not enough to just say "I want to record more music" or "I want to live a healthier life" or " I want better grades" You need to be as specific as possible; for example "I want to record an album or EP" or "I want to run a 5k " or "I want to get an A in chemistry" The more specific you are the clearer your goal will be.
Measurable:
How are you going to be able to track and see the progress you are making?
There is nothing worse than feeling like you just can't see if you're getting anywhere. Inspiration and motivation has a huge impact on our ability to stick with a plan, and being able to track how much closer we are to getting there builds confidence and helps us stay the course. So if the goal is running a 5k you could say that this goal is measurable by tracking how much longer you can run without walking each week. If it is an A in chemistry then your assignments and feedback from the teacher is a good way to see if you are improving in the areas you need. In regards to recording you could measure by the amount of time you've spent in the studio each week and see what your weekly product is for example one track a week.
Achievable:
Is this a realistic goal and doable?
If your goal is to be the president of the United States by next month or to get an A in Chem this semester when you are currently at an F....Maybe you need to adjust your goals a little. Take a look at your goal and make an inventory. Do you have the tools and skills to be able to pull it off? and if not right now what can you do to get them? There is nothing more discouraging than setting really high goals and falling flat. This is not to say don't aim high because you should, it's how we grow! But be realistic, maybe you need to break a big goal into a few smaller ones to get you there in due time. What skills might you need to learn to be able to do it?Maybe you need to take a course in audio recording and editing, maybe you need to study more than once a week for that A you want.
Relevant:
The big 'ol why.
Why is this something you want? and in what way is it relevant to you?
Defining why our goals are important to us is important so we know what we're working for and why in the long run. Are you wanting that A in chemistry because you "should" want an A in chemistry or is it important to you because you need it to qualify for further studies? You need to be truly and personaly invested to get there or you just wont. You need to know that it is worth your time and effort.
Timely:
Having a deadline set for yourself is one of the most important things you can do. Your goal needs a start and a finish, research shows that if you have a deadline you are more likely to keep your energy, motivation and actually meet your goal than if you don't and let it drag on forever. Tie it back to being a realistic one but don't make it to far off or you'll be tempted to procrastinate. Generally I tend to do mine every 6 months, so for example by Christmas/new years is where I'm setting mine for this fall.
When you've written them all down keep them visible!
Make sure you put your smart goals somewhere you can see them daily, in your planner, or at your workspace. Don't let them get forgotten or lost in a myriad of lists or notebooks. Keeping them around as a daily reminder helps it stay fresh and a priority.
Happy planning!
xoxo
Jess
Listen in on this Blogs companion episode of Coffee with Jess
