Do you usually succeed at keeping your New Year’s resolutions? Professor Richard Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire is conducting an online experiment to see how many people achieve their goals. He has people tell him their main resolution and has a readymade list that included:

  • Lose weight
  • Quit or cut down smoking
  • Improve and existing relationship
  • Drink less
  • Be a better person
  • Other (fill in the blank)

I chose “Other” and said my New Year’s resolution for 2007 was to have fewer negative thoughts about other people. To help me, Prof. Wiseman suggests creating achievable, “SMART” goals:

smart goals

So how would I go about reducing the number of negative thoughts I have about other people? Should I wear a rubberband around my wrist and snap it everytime I think something bad? Should I get a big bag of beads and throw one into a jar when I am being negative about someone just to see how fast it fills up?

Oh, wait, I got it. I should find the nearest cave and become a hermit - no internet, no TV, no nothing. Just myself to blame. Or would negative thoughts about myself count too?

I have a feeling I’ll be reporting negative progress with my resolution when Prof. Wiseman emails me in a few weeks’ time.

FYI, the SMART goals guidelines in text.

Set SMART goals

Goal setting is vital to success. Focus on creating goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time based (SMART). For example, instead of thinking ?I need to lose three stone? or ?I want to find a new job?, focus on creating bite-sized, measurable goals for each week. You might aim to lose a pound in weight, or apply for one new job, each week. Map out the step-by-step mini-goals that will slowly but surely take you to where you want to be, make a note of them in a diary, and stick to the plan.

Hat tip: Bryan Appleyard