With 2018 underway, we here at Banzai wanted to share the best way to start your year off right! Check out this great way to create a new year resolution that you can stick with. Trying to lose weight, save money or just want to learn more? The S.M.A.R.T. plan has got you covered!

What is a S.M.A.R.T. Plan?

A S.M.A.R.T. Plan is an acronym that allows you to thoughtfully create attainable goals and set milestones to help you reach your desired results.

Specific

It’s important to be specific when setting your goals or resolutions. Outline exactly what you would like to achieve and it'll allow you to build steps to accomplishing your goals. Ambiguity will only cloud the process and may inevitably lead to you lose focus!

Instead of: “I want to lose weight.”

Try: “I want to lose 50 lbs.”

Measurable

Creating goals with measurable results allows you to celebrate as you complete milestones or exceed certain thresholds. These micro-celebrations are key to generating the motivation needed to staying on track.

Example: I want to lose 50 lbs or 2.5lbs per week. I will weigh myself every 2 weeks.

Attainable

Is your goal actually attainable? If you are looking to become a millionaire in a week, then the answer is more than likely "no". Understand your level of commitment to your goal, time available to work toward it, and resources at your disposal to help you accomplish your goals. Factoring in all of these variables will help you create a reasonable and healthy goal that you will achieve.

Example: I weigh 250 lbs. I want to lose 50 lbs or 2.5lbs per week. I will weigh myself every 2 weeks.

Relevant

Choose goals that mean something to you. Creating goals, just for the sake of it is anti-productive. Instead, find goals that have intrinsic motivation behind them or that is relevant toward your immediate situation.

Example: My father battles with weight related health issues. I want a better quality of life. I weigh 250 lbs. I want to lose 50 lbs or 2.5lbs per week. I will weigh myself every 2 weeks.

Timely

Deadlines! Since grade school, we’ve all dealt the the pressures of deadlines and timelines. Creating deadlines to your measurables and to your overall goals will help make check points for recalibration and provide milestones to celebrate. All this leads to a sense of accomplishment and continued success in your endeavors.

Example: My father battles with weight related health issues. I want a better quality of life. I weigh 250 lbs. I want to lose 50 lbs with 6 months. I will weigh myself every 2 weeks and work to lose 2.5lbs per week.

 

Now that you have the basics down, let's move towards vaping, specifically. Below is a plan that we at Banzai have created with a few of our friends and family in mind.

Vape S.M.A.R.T. Plan

Specific

“I want to reduce my cigarette smoking by half and will use vaping to accomplish this.”

Measurable

“I want to reduce my cigarette smoking by half and will use vaping to accomplish this. I will look to supplement one more cigarette with vaping every two weeks.”

Attainable

“I smoke a pack a day. I want to reduce my smoking by half by vaping. I will look to supplement one more cigarette with vape every two weeks.”

Relevant

“Cancer runs in my family and I want as much time with my kids as possible. I want to reduce my smoking by half by vaping. I will look to supplement one more cigarette with vape every two weeks.”

Timely

“Cancer runs in my family and I want as much time with my kids as possible. I want to reduce my smoking by half using vape by the end of spring. I will look to supplement one more cigarette with vape every two weeks.”

Other Resolution Tips

Publicize Your Goals

Social media is a great platform to share the latest memes and what you ate on Saturday night, but try publicizing some of your goals. It'll help you by making your friends and family aware and help keep you accountable and on track and provide motivation.

Strength in Numbers

Find other people with common interests and goals. The more people in your support system the more likely you are to achieve your goals.

Treat Yo Self!

Don’t forget to celebrate and reward yourself when you accomplish significant milestones. What is the point of accomplishing your goals if you can’t bask in the glory. Treat yo self!

Check out our S.M.A.R.T. plan

Are you getting pumped to make your own goal and plan it to perfection? Still need a bit of help? Below are the 2018 goals for Madi (our social media manager) and Jon (one of the owners of Banzai Vapors). Check this out and then let us know what your goal for 2018 is!

Madi’s Goal:

Specific. Workout 5 days a week. Plus save money towards Christmas Presents. 

Measurable. Use the "My Fitness Pal" app to check in that I am working out. Also, I will create a reward jar and put one dollar in it, each time I work out!

Achievable. Just 1 day at a time, one dollar at a time. Plan each week with the 5 workouts in mind. If I am going to be at a friend's house on the weekend, then I know I have to workout more during the week.

Relevant. This is something I really want to do for my health.

Timely. “If you’re building a habit, you’re planning for the next decade, not the next couple of months.” 

Jon’s Goal:

Specific. Read 6 books this year.

Measurable. Read 1 book every 2 months.

Achievable. I will allot 30 minutes a day to sit and read with my kids.

Relevant. I want to be influenced by greater minds, expand my creativity, and spend more time with my kids.

Timely. I will want to have read 6 books by the end of the year.