3 Goal Setting Factors You Haven’t Considered (that are hijacking your personal milestones right now!)
Before you beat yourself up for not sticking to your new year’s resolutions (again) consider these 3 science based goal setting tips before you beat yourself up. Most coaches and trainers don’t talk about the science behind building habits that last, they simply show you how to mimic the actions. In order to truly implement new habits on long term basis, you need to understand the following 3 things:
Understanding which stage of change in
Data collection and implementation CANNOT happen at the same time
Commitment Strategy defined ahead of time based on personalized pain and pleasure points
Okay, so what does this mean? Let’s break it down:
Stages of Change
This is a real thing. There are 5 stages of change that have been identified by scholarly psychologists and understanding, or rather, being able to identify which stage you are in when you decide on a goal or a habit is the foundation that predetermines the outcome. Making investments (in time or resources) from Stage 3 is the sweet spot for habits to become successful part of your life. Let’s do a quick drill down on the 5 stages:
Pre-contemplation (Data Collection)
Contemplation (Research)
Preparation (Investment)
Action (Implementation)
Maintenance (Repeat)
Taking Action From The Wrong Place
Just as much as not knowing what stage you are in impacts your outcome, so does WHEN and HOW you implement new habits. If you combine multiple stages at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and quit. Some people have a great understanding and discipline, they simply fail because they attempt to “do it all” at once - anything all at once can be “too much”. Just like a scientist or detective, we have to be objective when we collect data on our current situation. Starting a new habit when you are at the wrong stage can lead to lack of results, loss in investment (time + energy), and lowered sense of competency.
Commitment Strategies
Developing a personalized commitment strategy means partnering with someone who can and will hold you accountable to achieving your goals. This means discovering what motivates you (reward) and what pains you (cost) and creating a system of “checks and balances” with a trusted partner.
I hope that this provided the less discussed concepts when it comes to goal setting. SMART goals are great for breaking down the step-by-step implementation but that doesn't really work if you are not mentally aligned with your goals and don’t have an effective strategy in place to stay committed to your goals.
If you would like to learn more about The Science of Building Habits That Last , please drop me a note. If you would like to learn more about having a dedicated accountability partner to help you achieve your goals, chat with me here.
