Set a SMART Goal for 2026!
We’ve come to the last Coaching Corner Blog post of 2025! I hope these articles have been useful to you this year and I would love to hear your burning questions for 2026. You can send them in here! After a brief holiday break, I will be back with answers and new tips on Monday, January 12th.
You may be prepping to yourself to begin your resolutions for the New Year. It’s no secret that most people will drop those resolutions before February, so how do you set yourself up to actually succeed? The solution is to set yourself a SMART goal! What’s that? Funny you should ask…
How to set a S.M.A.R.T. Goal
What’s the key to sticking with a resolution or a goal? It all begins with setting the right type of goal. Think “SMART:”
SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ATTAINABLE
REALISTIC
TIMELY
Is your goal SPECIFIC?
For example, “I want to get faster” could more specifically be “I want to run a 5K in 25 minutes.”
Is your goal MEASURABLE?
Running a 5K in in 25 minutes is absolutely measurable!
Goals like “I want to eat healthier,” “I want to work out more,” or “I want to look good for the beach this summer” are not measurable.
Is your goal ATTAINABLE?
Running a 5K in 25 minutes may not be attainable if this is your first time on a running plan! Make sure that you’re challenging yourself, but the goal is still within reach of your abilities.
If your goal is too hard, it’s easy to get discouraged and give up. On the other hand, if it’s too easy, you may become disinterested!
Is your goal REALISTIC?
Is this goal realistic for your lifestyle? Will you be able to fit the training plan into your already hectic life and current exercise regime? What are the challenges you’re facing in achieving your goal, and what can you realistically do to overcome them?
Is your goal TIMELY?
Your goal needs a time frame! For example: “I want to run a 5K in 25 minutes 2 months from today.”
Your time frame should be short enough to build urgency, but long enough to allow for one or two slip-ups along the way.
If your goal fails to meet S.M.A.R.T. criteria, it will likely fail YOU!
What are some of your SMART goals for 2026? I’d love to hear about them. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your year, and cheers to a fantastic 2026!
Hi, I'm Cassandra! I'm a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutritionist, and Pre/Postnatal Fitness Specialist based in New York City where I've also been performing in theatre and film since 2015. I began studying with the National Academy of Sports Medicine so that I could help battle the harmful effects of diet culture and body shaming I was seeing online by spreading evidence-based information that will help you lead a more balanced, healthy, and mobile life!