It turns out the SMART goals framework doesnt encompass all the ways that goal-setting can help us.
If you ask me, you actuallyshouldntturn every goal into a SMART goal.
SMART goals weren’t invented for self-improvement
Lets take a minute to consider the history.
But no: Their origins are in the management world.
In 1981, business consultant George Doran wrote an article entitled Theres a S.M.A.R.T.
way to write managements goals and objectives.
But the SMART framework doesn’t make a lot of sense for individuals setting goals for themselves.
Fitness and self-improvement gurus have simply rewritten the acronym and changed its focus.
What does SMART stand for?
He also said SMART goals can and should live alongside more abstract goals.
The structure can be limiting, shift your focus to things thataren’tyour actual goals.
Here’s what I mean.
Is this really whats going to motivate you?
What happens to your ability to enjoy food without obsessing over calories?
What happens to the types of exercise you would normally find fun but that dont provide the maximal calories-burned-per-minute?
You get tunnel vision, and thats not necessarily a good way to approach a goal.
When you make a goal Attainable or Realistic, youre not allowing yourself to dream big.
If youre aiming to improve, wouldnt you want to try something thats a challenge specificallybecauseyou might fail?
Finally, making a goal Time-bound is setting an artificial barrier.
What happens if you get to the deadline and havent done the thing?
Was it all for naught?
If youre talking about a corporate quarterly deadline, maybe.
Self-improvement doesnt have a finish line.
If you couldnt get to 100 pushups by X date, arent you still stronger than when you started?
Couldnt you keep working and see if you’re able to get to 100 pushups in another month?
This thing isnt your overall goal, but perhaps it can be helpful as part of the process.
So think about setting some time-bound, measurable tests asminimumsto be sure youre on track.
That turns them into process goals, not outcome goals.
For example, you might commit to running four times a week over the next month.
Take away the deadline and ask: How soon can I get to a [goal weight] deadlift?
Or take away the measurement aspect, and see what happens if you justdo stuff.Have fun.
How will your life change?
You dont need numbers you might track on a spreadsheet to try things and see how they turn out.
