Now that 2014 flew by and is now coming to a close, it is a great time for reflection. Take a good look over this past year. Did you meet your goals? Are you satisfied with your actions? Or did you not quite accomplish everything you were looking to do? This time of year is famous for people making their New Year’s resolutions, but how many of us actually follow through? It is really important, especially in relation to JiuJitsu, to set goals. You want to make sure your goals fit your lifestyle however. You do not want to set unreasonable expectations because that will leave you disappointed when those goals are not fulfilled. A good system to use is the S.M.A.R.T acronym. Some of you may be familiar with this, but for those who aren’t, it is a good way to set up realistic goals.
S.-Specific. It is important to make specific goals rather than general or vague ones. Being specific gives you a clear cut idea of what it exactly is that you want. To do this, answer the 6 W’s. (who, what ,which, where, why ,when) For example, a general goal would be I want to get in better shape. A specific goal would be I want to join a gym and lose ten pounds with a workout schedule of three times a week.
M.-Measureable. Make sure your goals are measurable by asking yourself questions such as how much or how many? This will help you reach target dates. Track your progress as well. This will help keep you motivated by seeing progression.
A.-Attainable. Setting goals that are attainable is really important. You want to set goals that you know you have the time and resources to accomplish them. Establish time frames for each one that are reasonable and logical. List out all your goals and realize your worthy of them. Know that you can develop the necessary qualities so that these goals become within your reach.
R.-Realistic. Your goals need to be realistic otherwise you will be disappointed when they aren’t accomplished. Try not to set goals that you know are just not reasonable. For example, if you want to be a world champion, but you only train once a week or your job takes up all your time, then chances are that goal is not very realistic. Set goals that you are both able AND willing to work towards.
T. Tangible. A goal should be tangible, which means you can feel it with one of the senses. It allows the goal to be more specific therefore more attainable.
I hope this helps some of you develop an idea for setting some of your goals. Regardless of what system you use, just be sure to have goals written down. Jiujitsu is a journey. We are always learning and always improving. The goals we have can be never ending, but for 2015 write yours down and stay focused and motivated. Hard work always pays off and you will feel such a great sense of accomplishment when you meet your goals. Help your teammates achieve theirs, and have your teammates help you achieve yours. We are all in this together!
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