Are you looking forward to a New Year and setting our goals now in anticipation that 2016 will be the year— the year that I run a 5k; the year that I lose 20 pounds; the year I meet the goal I set last year?

It’s hard setting goals, but it’s harder when we don’t meet them. There’s something very satisfying about meeting a goal you set for yourself. However, all too often we set unrealistic goals, or we lose track of the goal and end up quitting.

You probably do some amount of planning when you go on vacation, or go to the grocery store, so why wouldn’t you do some planning on reaching your goal? If you are ready, make sure to have a plan so that you don’t throw this goal away like so many previous New Year’s resolutions.

Let’s talk about setting SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for a method of setting achievable goals. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

The SMART goal-setting method begins with being Specific about your goal.

Let’s take a common goal: I want to start exercising.

That statement alone may set you up for failure if you stop there. Unfortunately, when it comes to exercise, it’s not the thought that counts; it’s the action. So be Specific.

A Specific goal: I want to walk one hour a day, five days a week.

Next, how will you Measure your progress? Think about marking your calendar with the days you walk so that you actually see what you’re doing rather than keeping it in your head. There’s something reinforcing about writing something down and looking at it.

You also want to make sure that your goal is Attainable. For example, maybe five days a week is too aggressive. Maybe one hour three days a week for one month would be more attainable.

An Attainable goal: I want to walk one hour three days a week.

The next step in your SMART goal is making it Realistic. What are your barriers or challenges to reaching this goal? Time? Money? Motivation?

Is your goal unrealistic due to any of those challenges? Maybe time is an issue and it would be better if you walked on your lunch break or before work.

A Realistic goal: I want to walk 30 minutes three days a week.

Lastly, is there a Time element in your goal? If you don’t set time parameters then you have a vulnerable goal with a risk of failure. Build in your time elements as water stops along the way!

A Timely goal: I want to walk 30 minutes three days a week for one month.

After one month of being successful, you have created some motivation and increased desire to continue to the next month or next three months with another SMART goal.

What’s your SMART goal for the New Year? I’d love to hear it. Simply reply to this post.

atom Alliance helps healthcare professionals and patients set SMART goals for themselves every day. Learn more.

Corley Roberts, Quality Improvement Advisor, MHA, CPHQ, ACSM-HFS

Corley Roberts is an exercise physiologist and a certified Health Fitness Specialist. A published author and public speaker, she is founder of MyFitScript, a resource for education and exercise programs based on chronic disease and age. Corley currently works for Qsource, an atom Alliance member, as a Quality Improvement Advisor specializing in readmissions reduction.