A common framework for goal setting is the SMART goal. Each letter in the acronym represents a component of a good goal.

Specific: A goal should help you focus on something specific. Instead of setting a goal for “exercise more” you can break it down into components. This is an opportunity to focus on more than resolving to use that gym membership again. Look at your total wellbeing and pick something specific that would make you happy. Perhaps a goal to walk more by finding a parking spot further away in the parking lot. A specific goal can become a mastered behavior with practice!

Measurable: Once you have a specific goal you can establish a way to measure it. The measure should be easy to use; otherwise, you won’t use it. Following the earlier goal to park further way from the door, maybe you can use the number of rows in your office parking lot or the shopping mall. 

Achievable: New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. One of the top reasons is that they are so distant that we give up. Make your goals achievable so that they stretch you but not break you. If you are just starting to jog, don’t pick “Run the Boston Marathon” as your first goal. Start with a local 5k run.

Relevant: Your exercise goals should be relevant to everything else in your wellbeing. It makes no sense to sacrifice your overall wellbeing for an exercise goal. You are a total person and your goals should support you… Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Timely: Put a time frame around your goals to which you can commit daily. A goal that is months or years into the future is more like a wish. Set your goals for something you will do daily or at least weekly.