Whatever your goals may be in life and golf, make sure they’re S.M.A.R.T! Too often we get caught up in the bigger picture and forget where we’re going along the way. This causes too high of expectations and decreased self esteem and efficacy when an unrealistic goal is not met. So, in order to prevent derailing from your original goal from fatigue, frustration and failure. Set yourself up for success with one S.M.A.R.T goal at a time.
“S.M.A.R.T” stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable (or Action Oriented), Relevant & Time-based. Any and every goal you set for yourself should follow this acronym to make sure you’re on the right track and not setting an unrealistic goal that will leave you feeling defeated. When you are looking ahead towards the next obstacle you’re determined to overcome, plan out how you will achieve it and what steps are needed in order to get there.
When planning to work towards a goal ask yourself, is this too broad? Am I trying to accomplish too much at once? Or is this specific enough to narrow down to one or two tasks worth completing? This is Specific. If there’s no destination in mind, it can sometimes be more difficult to realize when you’ve reached your end point, so keep it Specific.
Is your goal Measurable? How will you be able to track your progress or know when you’ve made it? There should always be a mode of measurement.
How Attainable (or Action Oriented) is this task in mind? Is it something that will take many resources that are not available to you or is it something that can be done with what you have or are willing to pursue? Do you see the possibility of you putting in the work needed?
Relevance. Does this goal pertain to your overall dream and help assist your process? Or is this something that will take you down a different path or steer you away from your focus?
Finally, Time-based. There always needs to be a deadline or end in sight. If not, it’s harder to stay consistent and see that all your hard work is paying off.
Once you’ve found that your goals meet each point, hold yourself accountable, stay consistent and trust the process!
Example S.M.A.R.T Goal in the Performance Zone:
Athlete A will be able to increase their FMS (Functional Movement Screen) score by completing their corrective exercises twice a day until they are tested again in one month, on August 1st, 2022.
By Ali Brochu
