Measuring Specifics

We are already two-thirds of the way through January, and all the ambitions and goals for the year have likely already met resistance. Research shows that by February, a large preponderance of New Years resolutions have already died out or have at least relinquished a great deal of momentum. The objective we set out to accomplish may already appear overwhelming.

That’s why a measurable goal is so important. In fact, I would argue that until an objective is measurable, it really isn’t even a goal. Human beings don’t connect well with the abstract, and we also have a need to measure progress in order to stay motivated. So, we must bake metrics right into the recipe.

Here’s what a mean:

·        I want to exercise more – Too vague. What is “more” and what is “exercise”? Instead, it should look something like, “I want to lift weights two days a week for at least 30 minutes and do a minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity on two other days.” Now it’s measurable and far less abstract.

·        I want to be healthier – Again, way too abstract. Instead, one could commit to adding an extra serving of green veggies every day or going to bed an hour earlier to get more sleep. It could even be as simple as deciding to park at the far end of the parking lot at work to force just a bit more walking each day. It doesn’t need to be big; it just needs to be specific.

·        Get organized – When will life ever truly be organized? Spoiler alert, it won’t happen. But one could commit to breaking down the garage or a junk room into sections and spending an hour every Saturday for the next six weeks cleaning up a section at a time, going through old boxes and giving away or throwing away items that haven’t been used in a year.

·        Spend more time with family – Sounds nice, but this isn’t really a goal because it’s not defined. Instead, one could commit to hosting a family dinner once a month for the extended family in the area (okay, maybe once a quarter, we don’t want to get crazy here). Or for immediate family, planning a movie night once a week with a spouse and kids.

I think you get the idea. By making it measurable and specific, we turn an ideal or a pipedream into a defined task. In doing so, we bring clarity to the objective and allow ourselves to chart progress, both of which are essential for staying engaged for the long run.

Unmeasurable + undefined = unsuccessful