Smart goals

When putting together an action plan, you want to use goals that use the Smart criteria:
Specific
Measurable
Actionable
Realistic
Time based

One of my Priorities is Health. What are my goals?

1. Eat healthy meals that include whole grains and vegetables.
A. Plan weekly dinner menu (at least 5 meals at home) that plans for leftovers (lunches);
B. shop at Farmers market on Sundays for Organic produce.
C. Use Cooking Light, Pinterest and cookbooks to try out seasonal healthy recipes.

2. Schedule physical activity several times a week.
A. Plan weekend activities that include hiking or walking.
B. train for half marathon
C. Bring tennis shoes to work to walk before work or during lunch.
D. Investigate Zumba class after work (once a week).
E. invest in a bike carriage to take the baby on bike rides.


How did I do with smart criteria?

Mission, Vision and priorities

Most organizations have a Mission, Vision and Goals that help them stay focused and working on the same set of objectives.
Having a Mission and Vision for your life also helps you keep focused on priorities.

Wikipedia definition:

• Vision: outlines what the organization wants to be, or how it wants the world in which it operates to be (an "idealised" view of the world). It is a long-term view and concentrates on the future. It can be emotive and is a source of inspiration. For example, a charity working with the poor might have a vision statement which reads "A World without Poverty."

• Mission: Defines the fundamental purpose of an organization or an enterprise, succinctly describing why it exists and what it does to achieve its vision. For example, the charity above might have a mission statement as "providing jobs for the homeless and unemployed".

Examples for me:
Mission- to make positive change in the world.

Vision-  Happy, Healthy and Secure family.

Priorities
A read a blog once that recommended having Top 5 Priorites in your life that all your weekly and daily goals would support. The author suggested reviewing these annually as well as taking time weekly to review weekly/daily goals.

My Top 5 for this year are as follows:
1. My son (raise a well balanced young man)
2. My husband (continuous improvement on our relationship)
3. Support/social network (create a strong social and support network in our new location)
4. Health (build total body health, strength and wellness)
5. Financial (financial stability and independence)

To make these even more effective, I can break each of them into an Action plan, with specific Goals and Measures for the year/next couple years.