Photo courtesy of Anita Marchesani

It’s week two of the New Year and also Get Organized Month(SM).*  How are your New Year’s resolutions going?  If you have not yet made a New Year’s resolution, it’s not too late.  But, instead of thinking of it as a New Year’s resolution, think of it as setting a long term goal instead. 

Anita Marchesani, Ph.D, a personal and executive coach and author of "HELP! I'm a WAHM - Stress Relief for Mothers Doing It All", advises her clients to set SMART goals.  Anita, also known as Dr. Anita, says, “Do you want to set a goal for yourself, but question whether you’ll really achieve it? Follow these SMART guidelines for defining your goals, and you’ll be sure to reach your dreams!

Specific – Have your goal be as specific as possible. Consider the difference between saying, “I will organize my life,” versus, “I will purge and organize my kitchen drawers.” Specific goals help you feel competent to reach them. If a goal is too broad, you may feel paralyzed just thinking about doing it. Define exactly what you want to accomplish. If the ultimate goal is very large, then break it down into smaller, more manageable steps.

Measurable – Quantify your goal by putting it in measurable terms. Saying “I want to lose weight” is fine, but how will you know if you’ve succeeded? Rather, consider the power in saying, “I want to lose 10 pounds.” You can mark your achievement easily, and will feel more accomplished.

Attainable – Choose a goal that you have the time and energy for. Even specific and measurable goals can be unattainable if you lack the resources to achieve them. Exercising for an hour every day is great, but if you simply don’t have an extra hour each day, it won’t happen.

Realistic – Along the lines of being attainable, make sure your goal is realistic. Want to start a new business? Great! But expecting it to generate a significant income in the first six months is unlikely. Research your goal to make sure your expectations are reasonable.

Timeline – Very importantly, mark your goal with a time limit. People work well with deadlines because it helps focus attention and resources more effectively. Set a time frame in which you will meet you goals. It also helps us remember that there will be an end to our efforts. Sometimes goals feel overwhelming because of the sense that we’ll always be working on it. But planning to have your office organized in 30 days energizes the task.

Be confident that whatever you wish to achieve is possible with good planning and structure.  Putting lots of smaller, manageable goals together will eventually lead to big changes and a better life!"
 
Anita Marchesani, Ph.D. is a Personal and Executive Coach, Licensed Psychologist, Certified Fitness Trainer and Author. Her education, training, and experience allows her to meet all of her client's needs. She specializes in work at home mother issues and leadership coaching.  You can reach Anita at MarchesaniA@aol.com or 717.779.2627.  Click here to sign up for her newsletter.

For additional tips on setting goals, read my recent article on setting a more realistic “get organized” resolution this year.

For more info on Dr. Anita: 
Having trouble starting or sticking to a fitness program? Learn about Anita’s new Personal Fitness Coaching program, Fitness Calling.
More about Anita Marchesani, Ph.D
About her self-help book. "HELP! I'm a WAHM - Stress Relief for Mothers Doing It All"

*What is Get Organized Month(SM) (GO Month)? Sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), GO Month is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a NAPO professional organizer. Click here to find a Baltimore area professional organizer near you.

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