Throughout our lives, teachers, parents, and others have told us to create goals and plans beyond our present circumstances. However, we do not always approach life with goals in mind. Sometimes, we are just trying to survive. When caught in addiction to alcohol and/or other substances, surviving was our primary goal. We tried to deal with stressors and our emotions in the ways we thought were best. However, as we move forward with recovery, we have the opportunity to focus on what we want in our lives. We need to assess our lives, make goals, and figure out how to achieve those goals.
Making SMART Goals
The acronym SMART stands for a method of creating a plan for achievable goals. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Using this technique in creating goals, you will find yourself more able to identify realistic goals and methods of achieving them.
Specific
A specific goal is well-defined and clearly outlined. You may want to ask a few questions about your goal. Consider the people involved in your goal. Ask what you want to achieve. Knowing what you want to accomplish allows for more specificity.
A big question to ask is WHY you want to achieve this goal. Understanding the WHY of a goal sets a precedent for success. Understanding why allows you to focus on your ultimate purpose, not only in this specific goal but in your life as well.
Measurable
When making goals, having specific measurements of success is critical. Identify precisely how much or how many things you want to accomplish. “How will you know you have reached your goal?” is what you need to ask yourself as you put together the measurable aspect of your goals. Knowing how to measure your goals ensures the first part of a SMART goal: specific.
Achievable
When assessing whether or not your goal is achievable, you may ask if others have accomplished it before you. You can ask if you have the resources to achieve your goal. If the goal is somewhat out of reach, consider making a goal to better prepare you for your ultimate goal. If your goal is to buy a new car, you need to assess whether or not you have the income. If you do not have the income, you might change your goal to getting a different job to obtain a better income. Once that goal is achieved, you can return to the goal of buying a new car. Assessing achievability is an important aspect of creating goals, as you do not want to become disheartened by being unable to achieve your goals. Start small and achieve big.
Realistic
Is your goal reachable? Can you attain this goal? Asking yourself whether or not your goal is realistic is also related to the achievability of a plan. However, the two are distinct. Realistic relates to your ability to commit to the goal. Making a goal of going hiking and taking photos every weekend is unrealistic if you frequently have to work weekends or have other obligations. It would be best if you had a way to commit to the goal; otherwise, the goal is unrealistic.
Timely
Relative to measurability, when will you expect to achieve your goal. Having a date in mind gives you a deadline for achievement. If you want to buy a new car soon, you leave your plan open to your interpretation every day. However, if you said you wanted to buy a new car before winter, your goal is more defined. You can specify it even more clearly by giving a date. Having timely goals helps you develop mini-goals to assist you in reaching your self-determined deadline.
Why SMART Goals?
SMART goals are informed goals. You can identify what, when, how, and why you want something. Having answers to these essential questions ensures your success. Achieving success in your goals helps you in your life and your recovery.
Things to Remember
Setting goals in your life is essential. Setting goals in recovery is also important. Do not hesitate to start reaching for what you want. You can achieve the life you desire. Setting SMART goals is one way to get to the life you want. You were not made just to survive; you were created to thrive.
Begin the process of making goals with small goals. Soon, you will be able to identify bigger goals and learn how to create the steps to achieving those goals. SMART goals help many people achieve what they desire. However, you may want to do some research and assess if another technique is best for you. There are many resources to be found to help you achieve your goals. At Renaissance Ranch, we provide support through our professional staff to help you begin to identify goals and learn how to achieve them.
In recovery, as in life, setting goals to achieve what you want is essential. Knowing how to set goals is half the battle. Battling addiction while trying to focus on creating the life you want is difficult. Recovery from addiction to alcohol and/or other substances has to come first. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, the time is now to ask for help. At Renaissance Ranch, we offer support for those struggling with addiction and help them begin the process of building the life they want and deserve. You do not have to struggle alone. Help is available. Renaissance Ranch offers clinically driven and gospel-centered treatment for addiction to alcohol and/or other substances. We provide support for every step of the recovery process. Reach out to us at Renaissance Ranch today at (801) 308-8898 and learn how we can help you overcome addiction and build the life you want.