It's that time of the year again. We look back on all of last year's resolutions that we have failed, and make each other promises to keep us on our toes and help us achieve next year's New Year resolutions. We find all sorts of excuses as to why we failed, blaming the pandemic, heavier workloads and everyone else. Since you're about to come up with your 2021 goals, forget about trying to repeat last year's resolutions and read through how to form New Year resolutions that can actually be achieved!

The S.M.A.R.T system shouldn't be new to many of you as it has been widely applied in corporate and school uses to set goals and objectives. Today, just like our smart TVs and smart devices, I'll help you turn your 2021 resolutions into "smart" ones!

S - Specific

New Year resolutions, like any goal, should be specific and concise. Many people fall into the trap of making a resolution that is too general, in hopes that it might be easier to "hit the target" when the target is an entire wall. Instead, try making a clear goal as it'll make the next 4 steps much easier. Ask yourself "what" and "why".

DONT - I want to have a healthier lifestyle.

DO - I want to exercise more / change my diet / start meditating to have a healthier lifestyle.

DONT - I want to be richer.

DO - I want to increase my savings / start investing to be richer.

M - Measurable

Successful companies have all sorts of measuring sticks to determine the performance of their company and employees. This could be anything from stock prices, to sales numbers, or their turnover rate. Having a specific number or value to work towards keeps you motivated and focused. Ask yourself "how much" and "how will I know when I've succeeded".

DONT - I want to read more.

DO - I want to read at least 15 minutes every day.

DONT - I want to make more friends.

DO - I want to make at least 10 new friends.

A - Achievable

It's not that you should doubt yourself, but resolutions should be more realistic and attainable. After all, people usually make resolutions for that certain year only. Aim too high, and you might lose interest while trying for the impossible. Therefore, run through the methods to reach your goal and see if there is anything that is even slightly out of reach. Ask yourself "how to achieve" and "what resources do I have".

DONT - I want to be a certified pilot by this year.

DO - (Think about your qualifications, how long training will take, whether there are intakes available.)

DONT - I want to earn 1 million.

DO - (Think about your current salary, how much extra time do you have to find a second source of income and how much income will that generate. For investments, even a generous 10% profit will require 10 million in capital to generate 1 million.)

R - Relevant

Don't just pick goals because they are popular. Don't just pick resolutions because your friends are doing it too. Think about things that matter to you and align with your views. Your age, lifestyle and socio-economic environment all play a role. A resolution might be good for someone else but a total waste of time for you.

If you are already a slim person.

DONT - I want to lose 10 kg.

DO - I want to exercise once a week to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you are still a student.

DONT - I want to find multiple sources of income.

DO - I want to save up and invest at least 50% of my allowance.

T - Time-bound

Every objective should have a deadline, and so does your resolution. It doesn't have to always be the entire year, as you can have multiple goals for you to achieve, or moving targets that can be hit after a period of time. Having time-bound resolutions prevents you from "forgetting" your goals or leaving them until the last month.

DONT - I want to lose weight.

DO - I want to lose at least 1 kg a month.

DONT - I want to save more money.

DO - I want to save at least RM3000 by June.

S.M.A.R.T goals if used correctly can be very effective. Not only can you use them to set your 2021 New Year resolutions, you can use them in your work or studies to keep you motivated and focused. So, stop making resolutions that fail from the get go and start making smart resolutions and work towards a better you!