Workshop 6 SMART goal setting for stress reduction

Editor's Notes

• #4: Handle your Workload: Keep commitments within limits and review regularly, Don’t overpromise,Vary your work routine, Take breaks,Set limits to your work, Shun the superman urge. Lifestyle management: Work/Life Balance, Roles and Responsibilities, Unplug the Phone, Develop Hobbies/Non-Work Activities, Holidays or Mini-breaks. Time Management: Goal Setting, Planning, Prioritising, Organising, Take one Thing at a time .
• #12: Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic,Timely Specific: A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the six “W” questions: *Who: Who is involved? *What: What do I want to accomplish? *Where: Identify a location. *When: Establish a time frame. *Which: Identify requirements and constraints. *Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal. EXAMPLE: A general goal would be, “Get fit.” But a specific goal would say, “Join a health club and workout 3 days a week.” Measurable – Establish criteria for measuring progress toward the goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goal. To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as…… How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished? Attainable – When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals. Realistic- To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. A goal can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be. But be sure that every goal represents substantial progress. A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force. Timely – A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there’s no sense of urgency..
• #13: • Specific. You know what you want to accomplish. Vague goals equate to vague results. Goals must be fully furnished with detailed description of the what, when and how. • Measurable. You can assess your progress. Goals which can not be measured can not be managed. • Attainable. Your goal must be within your reach in your present situation. High goals that stretch you are okay, but high AND realistic goals are better. Unattainable goals can not motivate you. Easy goals on the other hand are not challenging enough. • Relevant. Goals need to be parallel to your purpose in life. Goals are simply instruments to accomplishing one’s mission/purpose in life. • Time-Sensitive. Goals need to have deadlines. A goal free from time element is susceptible to procrastination.