Using SMART Goals to Enhance Relationships
January is a popular month for change and resolutions. Many couples reevaluate their relationship after the holidays and realize they want something different or better. However, without understanding how to turn that thought into a successful action, many attempts fade after a few weeks or months. But why? Most people tend to shoot for goals and resolve that can be achievable. You might be familiar with “SMART Goals” for career enhancement, but this framework can be used in other areas, even your relationships. Let’s use the SMART Goals outline to position how you can elevate better in your relationship.
SPECIFIC
Many couples often disconnected with busy work weeks, children, and other obligations, often leaving their couple time as a low priority. Too few instances where the connection is present, let alone one focused on the connection outside to have some time to identifying the need for more specific time away from the common. Maybe its from distractions is a alone the goal for connection.
MEASURABLE
To be able to see if our specific goal is working, we need to be able to measure if we have achieved it and how often. How do we do that? You need something that can be counted. Identifying a frequency, such as weekly dates outside the home to focus on one another is a great measurement and accountability.
ATTAINABLE
To make this commitment successful, we need to establish that family credit card is not a better barrier to this goal. Do we have children? If so is that preventing their couple, or can we do a weeknights as we both have a date at work, we need to set a budget to invest money activities and to able to reevaluate our lifestyles to attain this? If so. Do we have credit? Do bank schedules favor we still find time to? Is juggling the barriers and developing ways to mitigate or remove them is essential.
RELEVANT
After establishing the goal, determining the frequency and ascertain for barriers, we need to ensure that this will address the original goal for change. Will spending time alone connecting the home make us feel closer to one another a couple, or do we need something more different?
TIME BOUND
Will we re-evaluate how this has impacted our resolution? Quarterly? Bi-annually? Give the action a chance to work and to see the overall effect on the relationship takes time. Small changes may make big differences and we may need to switch up the small steps to make a more significant effort.
When we use this methodology, we start by visualizing a better relationship with our spouse and end it with weekly dates and times, all of your favorite nighttime TV. We would love to support you with help setting this or other goals in different ways. Keep us honest and at 201-240-9788 or www.MD-Counseling.com.