7 SMART Goals You Need in 2021: Set Yourself Up For Success!
Do you know what SMART goals you need in 2021? Are you ready to experience success in 2021 and say goodbye to 2020 and the COVID crisis? Most people are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel because of the new vaccines. You may also be experiencing some hope for a better 2021. Success in 2021 can come when you set SMART goals and go beyond merely having New Year’s resolutions.
What is a SMART Goal?
A goal is an objective you want to achieve in your life. Metaphorically, a goal is a destination. It is where you want to be in your life at a particular time. A goal is always future-oriented, and it arises out of an overall vision and purpose for your life. You may have heard that the acronym SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Counselors use this technique or tool to help their clients set goals. A SMART goal gives direction, purpose, focus, and motivation! Look at the chart below to review this concept.
A long time ago, God spoke to the prophet Habakkuk, “Write the vision; make it plain” (Hab. 2:2 RSV). Therefore, writing a vision is essential for clarity of purpose. Your vision needs to include what you hope to accomplish in 2021 and what type of person you want to become. So, be sure to write down your vision for your life. Then, you can set SMART goals for the New Year.
The 7 Areas of Life to Set Goals
Our lives are multifaceted, and the multiple facets or areas are interconnected and interdependent. As a result, they influence each other. Counselors call this perspective the “biopsychosocial-spiritual” approach. In other words, this multidimensional method covers the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Thus, it is a helpful framework to view and understand your life from a holistic perspective.
You may be familiar with the term wellness, which means having a healthy and positive sense of well-being in all areas of life. The wellness model focuses on helping people make choices to promote a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Similarly, the National Wellness Institute promotes six dimensions of wellness: emotional, occupational, physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual. When we consider the biopsychosocial-spiritual and the wellness models, seven areas of life become prominent. Look at the chart below to review the seven areas of life.
You can experience success in 2021. However, it is essential to reflect on how you are doing in these seven areas and then set goals for each area. We believe that you need to have at least one SMART goal for each area. So, we emphasize 7 SMART Goals You Need in 2021 to Set Yourself Up For Success. Below, we share with you some examples of SMART goals. Let them serve as an inspiration for you to set your own goals. We realize that you may need to adjust some of the suggested goals due to COVID restrictions and social distancing. Also, we have included some blank spaces for you to customize your goals.
Suggested SMART Goals in Seven Areas of Life
PHYSICAL – Your health and fitness level
- Get an annual medical exam in 2021.
- Consult with a nutritionist to develop a healthy diet plan by January 2021.
- Be active and walk at least 10,000 – 12,000 steps daily.
- Run a 5K in _____ minutes by _____ (due date).
- Sleep 7-9 hours a night as recommended by The Sleep Foundation.
PSYCHOLOGICAL – Your mind and emotions (thinking and feeling)
- Replace irrational, unrealistic, or self-defeating thoughts with reality-based and hope-inspiring thoughts daily. As Christians, we can replace self-defeating thoughts with God’s truth.
- Start every day with gratitude. Name five things or people you are thankful for.
- Start journaling daily or weekly about your thoughts and feelings in a healthy way.
- Develop a support network of at least three emotionally and spiritually mature friends and talk with them weekly.
RELATIONAL – Your relationships (marriage, family, friendships, co-workers, etc.)
- Have uninterrupted time (____ minutes) with your spouse to share each other’s thoughts and feelings each day.
- Have a date with your spouse ______ (decide the frequency) a month.
- Learn and implement three effective communication skills in 2021.
- Disengage from technology _______ times a day to engage in face-to-face relationships.
- Review your social media accounts monthly to ensure that they look professional and provide encouragement to others.
FINANCIAL – Your money and material possessions
- Set up a weekly or monthly budget.
- Save $ ______ by ______ (due date).
- Invest $________ by _____ (due date).
- Pay off $ _____ of debt by _____ (due date).
- Give $ _____ to church, charity, or to help family and friends.
You may have a big goal, such as buying a house, a car, starting a business, or a new venture.
PROFESSIONAL – This area is about your vocation and career
- Take ____ continuing education courses each semester.
- Write down a career plan, including short-term and long-term goals.
- Revise and update the resume twice this year.
RECREATIONAL – Your leisure and fun
- Plan and take a vacation to _____ in the month of ____. Be sure to do this without breaking the bank.
- Have family games or family night activities once a week.
- Engage in a hobby weekly or once a month.
- Spend time with friends and play fun games once a month.
SPIRITUAL – Your faith and spirituality
- Engage in a meaningful time of worship at church weekly.
- Pray and meditate on the Word of God daily.
- Pray together with your spouse once a day.
- Be actively involved in a Bible study group at church weekly.
- Get involved in a specific ministry at your local church so you can serve and help others.
In conclusion, now that you feel motivated and inspired, write your own SMART goals for 2021. Be sure to set goals in all 7 areas of your life. Then, you develop a plan with specific action steps to reach your goals. Here is God’s promise for 2021, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV.
Watch our video below: Make 2021 the BEST YEAR for you – Christian Motivation!
Keep on growing!
Drs. Elias and Denise Moitinho