New year Old Style resolutions...

blossomhill_2 · 1 January 2012 at 10:09AM

Hi Folks, Happy New Year
Before you set your resolutions ... be kind to yourself for your 2012 resolutions – if you set yourself up for certain failure you will feel a failure and dump them by February
This is aimed at those who find it hard to get their homes organised; take a leaf out of businesses’ books and set yourselves SMART resolutions, in the same way that employees should have SMART objectives.
I hope they are useful, they are not aimed to be perfect, so any management-types or board-snipes need not let me know if they think they can do better, they are just a guide to help the chaotic among us to stop beating ourselves up

What does SMART mean for me?
Specific
Specific objectives are clear and well-defined.
Measurable
It is very useful to know when that work has been done and the objectives are completed, rather than some vague notion
Achievable
Achievable objectives ensure that what you are planning is actually possible and that if you don’t reach the goal you can see why.
Relevant
Objectives should also be useful, no point being perfect at something that’s no use to you
Timely
Realistic timescales are also useful, to make sure you are being reasonable – if it’s a 2year project you may need to enlist some outside help instead of expecting to do it yourself

Examples of good and bad
You want to keep a bedroom tidy
Specific
SMART: I will always keep the carpet clear in 2012 so I can vacuum under the bed

Not SMART: I will keep the bedroom tidy in 2012

Measurable
SMART: I hang my work clothes on a hanger or put in the washing basket within an hour of getting changed every work day :cool:
NOT SMART: I will be better about dumping clothes in the floor (how would you have measured “better”? You would probably still think you’d failed if you had an 80% improvement)

Achievable
SMART: I will find a carpenter and get a quote for my new wardrobes in 2012

NOT SMART: I will get the wardrobes sorted (not achievable if building them is beyond your capabilities, or you can’t afford them)

Relevant
SMART: I will always put the CD back in its case before loading a new one :rotfl:
NOT SMART: I will catalogue my CD collection in 2012 (not relevant in a busy household)

Timely
SMART: I will put the washing away within 3 hours of taking it into the bedroom

NOT SMART: I won’t leave clean washing around in the bedroom for the cat to sit on (you could achieve this by shutting the cat out but your bedroom would still be untidy!)

If you fail at any of these, check if they are still reasonable
eg
“I will always out my work clothes on a hanger or in the washing basket within an hour of getting changed” may need to be adjusted to allow for the odd occasion when you have been to a works do and come home a little tipsy, to
I will always out my work clothes on a hanger or in the washing basket within an hour of getting changed,unless I’ve been for a drink, in which case I will do it by 10am next day

HTH, let me know how you get on and best wishes for 2012 - Blossomhill