Goal Setting in Action
At the start of the new year, a lot of people tend to have rituals. These rituals usually center around some type of New Year’s resolution or goals that individuals set for themselves. Researchers have come up with a phenomena known as “quitters day.” This idea is that by the second Friday of January most individuals will have abandoned their resolutions and goals they set for themselves at the start of the year. There is a common understanding as to why this is the case, and it typically lands on the fact that people set unrealistic goals for themselves or are ill-prepared to follow through with their plans. This then turns into a cyclical pattern that people begin to feel as if they can’t shake. So, I will discuss the importance of goal setting and tips to use to make this action feel easier.
According to Arvinen-Barrow & Granquist (2024), goal setting is a psychosocial strategy that can provide individuals with a sense of purpose, motivation, and plan of action. As mentioned earlier it is easy to set goals, and usually hard to follow through with them. Which raises questions about how this can be done in a more seamless and realistic way. In 1981, a consultant by the name of George T. Doran coined the “SMART” acronym used in the field of business. However, this methodology became widely accepted and used within the field of psychology. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. This is commonly used as an intervention to help patients identify areas of change, provide clear direction, and track their progress. Furthermore, having an actionable plan and goals that feel attainable fosters motivation, improves accountability, and allows for a sense of clarity and purpose.
What are your actionable goals that will help you create a life purpose and achievement? Use this as a tool to eliminate doubt and create new experiences.
Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Granquist, M. (2024). Psychosocial considerations for rehabilitation of the injured athletic patient. In Rehabilitation techniques for sports medicine and athletic training (pp. 93-116). Routledge.
Demond Washington, MA. is a psychology trainee who provides sports psychology and clinical psychology services at Endurance - A Sports and Psychology Center, Inc. He is supervised by Dr. Cory Nyamora, a licensed psychologist and endurance sports coach. Dr. Nyamora is the founder and director of Endurance – A Sports & Psychology Center, Inc., a company that provides psychological services and sports training and travel to people of all ages. Endurance staff provide therapy, training and workshops for organizations and athletes on topics related to the intersections of sports, performance, mental health and overall wellness. Find out more at www.endurancecenter.org or call 510.981.1471.
