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RESEARCH SAYS SMART GOALS CAN MAKE
FOR SUCCESSFUL GOALS//SMART.6(3:A variety of studies
support the methodology
behind SMART goal
setting for use in health
behavior change and
maintenance.^3
Ninety percent of
studies on goal setting and
performance showed that
specific and challenging goals
led to higher performance
than easy goals; broad,
nonquantitative, “do your
best” goals; or no goals at all.^4
Long, far-off deadlines
sabotaged goal achievement.
When deadlines were in what
study participants perceived
as the present and not the
future, they were more likely
to get started on working
toward the goal they set.5,6
How attractive a goal was
to a goal setter, meaning
how much they wanted it
and how relevant it was to
their life, influenced how
committed they remained to
that goal and thus how likely
they were to accomplish it.^7
Specific goals yielded
higher group performance
than nonspecific goals,
particularly those that were
more difficult than easy
to achieve.^8EMBRACING A SMART APPROACH
TO GOAL SETTING
If you’re ready to set SMART goals, consider enlisting
a health coach to walk with you through the process. A
health coach can offer you one-on-one support to create
and sustain consistent, and even dramatic, change in your
life using SMART goals and other strategies.
If you’re a personal trainer, nutritionist, or other
wellness practitioner, you’ll likely find the SMART
approach a smart fit with the work you do. The
SMART methodology can help you support
and empower the people around you as they’re
accomplishing their own objectives and learning to
master the art of goal setting.CHR IS KR ESSER IS THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST-
SELLING AUTHOR OF THE PALEO CURE.August/September 2019 61
It’s important to note that
the SMART approach isn’t
a perfect fit for everyone. For
around 40 percent of people,
having objective-oriented
goals (like SMART goals)
is very helpful, while the
remaining 60 percent would
benefit from a directional,
less specific approach.^9 The
SMART approach also
leaves out other important
aspects to goal setting, like:GOAL THEME: Is the
goal a healthy one, or is it
detrimental?
GOAL ORIENTATION:
Is the goal focused on
approaching a positive
outcome or avoiding a
negative one?
GOAL HIERARCHY:
How does the goal fit in
with your other goals? If
this goal conflicts with
another, which one would
you choose to prioritize?That said, for those of you
who do prefer objective-
oriented goals and have
reached a stage of change
where you’re ready to take
action, SMART goals can
help you reach your objective.
That’s key, because brain
cells change in response to
success, which improves
behavior and leads to further
gains.10,11 What’s more, by
setting specific, time-bound
objectives, you turn your goal
into a habit: You shift your
behavior for the long term.see article
referencespage
136