How S.M.A.R.T. Are Your Organizing Goals?
If a new year is synonymous with anything, it’s goals and resolutions.
Like most people, you may be thinking, “I probably should make some kind of resolutions or goals, but I don’t usually do well keeping them, so why even try? I think I’ll just skip it this year.”
While it’s true that success rates for keeping New Year’s resolutions aren’t great, it’s also true that people who make New Year’s resolutions are ten times more likely to meet their goals than people who want to change their behavior but don’t make resolutions. So obviously setting goals is still a good idea.
When we make New Year’s resolutions (or any type of goals) and aren’t successful in achieving them, we usually blame ourselves. This blame starts us on a vicious cycle of self-condemnation that never serves us well and makes us even less likely to set goals in the future.
But have you ever stopped to consider that maybe the problem isn’t you? Maybe the problem is that you’re not making the right kind of resolutions. Your goals may be unrealistic, too vague, or just not well suited to your life.
Let’s take a look at how you can change things up a bit and make S.M.A.R.T. goals you are able to reach!
Goal: Getting Organized
Getting organized is a very common New Year’s resolution. In fact, it usually makes the Top 10 list of resolutions every year. However, setting a goal of just “getting organized” is like setting a goal of being more healthy. It’s way too broad, can’t really be measured, doesn’t include a plan, and can be overwhelming.
So what makes a good goal? The best kind of goal to set is a S.M.A.R.T. goal. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for 5 specific qualities - Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-bound - of an effective goal:
A specific goal says exactly what you’re going to do.
A measurable goal is one for which you can easily tell when you’re making progress on it and when you’ve achieved it.
An achievable goal is one that can realistically be attained.
A relevant goal is one that will benefit your life, making you happier, healthier, or more successful.
A time-bound goal includes some kind of schedule or time frame.
If you want to set an organizing goal with the best chance of success, make sure your goal includes all 5 of these criteria. This really takes goal-setting to a new level, doesn’t it? It will likely take some time for you to consider how to incorporate all of these principles into your new year’s resolution, but this thinking and planning are worth every bit of your time and effort.
A S.M.A.R.T. Organizing Goal
Now let’s talk about a common organizing goal and evaluate it based on the S.M.A.R.T. criteria:
Goal: “I’m going to organize my house.”
Problems: This goal is probably relevant, but it’s probably not achievable. It isn’t specific or measurable, has no plan, and isn’t time-bound.
Better Goal: “I’m going to organize my garage so that there’s nothing on the floor and I will be able to park both cars in it.”
This is a little better. It’s more specific, measurable, and relevant. But it still doesn’t include any plan or timeline.
A S.M.A.R.T. Goal: By the end of February, I will organize the garage. I will know I’ve succeeded if there is nothing on the floor, and I am able to park both cars in the garage.
This goal is specific; the garage is the one area to be organized.
This goal is measurable. It will be easy to tell if the goal has been met because the floor will be clear and two cars will be parked in the garage.
This is an achievable goal. Limiting the goal to one room makes this goal attainable.
This goal is relevant. Being able to park both cars in the garage and having a clear floor will improve his/her daily life.
This goal is time-bound; it will be completed by the end of February.
So, now what? While it would be nice to wave a magic wand and bring your resolution to pass, that’s not how it works (unfortunately). No, I need a detailed action plan.
Here’s an example of a garage organizing action plan:
I will set aside a Saturday on my calendar.
I will pull everything out of the garage, grouping items into categories as I go.
I will eliminate anything that I don’t love and use by selling or donating.
I will purchase and install some shelving.
I will purchase and install a wall-mounted track system.
I will place items that I am keeping either in clear labeled bins on shelves or hang them on the track system.
If you’re thinking, “Wow! That’s a lot of work for just one goal!” - you’re right! It takes a lot of work to think through all aspects of your goal, making sure it’s a S.M.A.R.T. and coming up with a detailed plan. However, taking the time to complete all of these steps is key to having the orderly life you want.
The fact that it involves a lot of work is a good reason not to make too many goals in the first place! You may have a lot of areas you want to organize, and it’s okay to make a list of all of them. But you stand a much better chance of success if you will just focus on one goal at a time.
Now that you know how to make S.M.A.R.T. goals you’re ready to conquer your clutter! Make sure to leave a comment and let us know how it goes! We’re here to support you every step of the way :)