Those have been my New Year Resolutions for, oooh, years. Some years I achieve them, some I don't. Frankly, in 2010 I more or less did the opposite, ending the year fatter and less fit than I've been for ages - and with fewer words written. Obviously what I should be doing is making my New Year Resolutions SMART.
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time framed
Lose weight isn't SMART because it's too vague - how much weight? by when?
Get fit isn't SMART - how do I define being fit?
Write more isn't SMART - more than what?
And none of it addresses exactly HOW I'm going to get there: cut down on the alcohol and ice cream, start going to the gym again, do my creative writing first thing before I blog, email etc. I spent a happy afternoon writing down some SMART objectives until it occurred to me that I could be spending the time writing or exercising - and I'd eaten half a box of Christmas Florentines while doing it.
I think the answer is, if you're going to do it, you will, whether it's giving up cream cakes or writing 1000 words a day. No special resolutions, just do it.
3 comments:
Once again you're absolutely spot on.
Those are my resolutions as well, and I'm now re-thinking them in more specific terms.
Thanks for the gee-up.
Great idea to make resolutions really specific and measurable!
Mine are - complete my novel. Specifically, first draft by end of June and edits by end of year. And, keep up the running. Specifically, run 5km or more once a week or more, unless I'm sick or away.
Will those do?
I think the time element is really important when we're thinking about specifics as it's easy to let it all drift otherwise.
I'm just impressed by anyone who can run to the end of the street (yes, that's how unfit I am) but your objectives sound like SMART ones to me.
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