Replace your New Year's resolutions with SMART goals

It is that time of the year when people hit the proverbial “reset" button and start to think about New Year’s resolutions. New Year's resolutions are set for different reasons and to achieve different milestones. In the case of researchers, their resolutions could include a desire to get more papers published, collaborate more, mentor more people or write more grant proposals.

A New Year's resolution is a decision to do (or not do) something, usually at the beginning of the year. This is done, because people see the beginning of the year as a chance to start afresh. Resolutions are helpful, since they offer a blank slate and an opportunity to "make things right".  Setting New Year's resolutions also reveals self-efficacy, because engaging in this process implies that researchers can control what’s happening in their career by aspiring to complete a task, change a habit and follow through. However, the majority of researchers abandon their resolutions within one to six weeks of having started. There are different reasons why researchers do not see New Year’s resolutions through. Some include not making the resolutions specific enough, lack of commitment or resolutions not being relevant to the individual. Not following a New Year's resolution early on can be disappointing and may cause self-doubt among researchers, which makes working towards the particular task even more unlikely.

So how can you keep your resolutions this year? I recommend the following, based on what has worked for me. First, instead of writing up a list of “New Year’s Resolutions,” you may want to consider “New Year's Goals and Dreams.” Although they sound similar, I have found that the mindset and approach to achieving them are different. Goals can be seen as a series of calculated steps intended to help you achieve the resolution, like writing a paragraph per day to get into the habit of writing. Based on this definition, you may see goals as a clearer outline of your resolutions. This implies that a resolution could be your desired outcome and your goals are the steps you must take to achieve it.

Here are my considerations when setting achievable goals using the SMART principle:

S – Specific – Is your goal focused and unambiguous?

Avoid setting ambiguous goals! One way to achieve this is to identify your overall goal and describe what you are trying to accomplish. Specifically, avoid goals such as “Write three papers this year”, because that is a big and complex goal. It is better to break your goal into smaller pieces:

• Use Demographic and Health survey data to examine the association between child nutrition and mortality;
• Respond to reviewer comments on paper X and resubmit;
• Submit a paper on family planning to the Special Issue edition of Journal Y.

It is important to clarify your specific, desired outcome(s) before you start. Doing so lets you focus on the “what” rather than the “why” of what you’re doing, while you’re doing it.

M – Measurable – How do you know when you have achieved your goal? Tracking your progress can help you stay motivated and keep you excited, especially when you are on track.

While this may seem challenging, some things that can be measured include:

• Writing up the methods and results section of a new manuscript;
• Attending a data analysis workshop;
• Submitting the abstract for a special issue;
• Writing a paragraph per day or a new section of a paper in a week or month.

A – Attainable – is your goal realistic? How do you establish reasonable objectives that ensure the success of this goal?

You must make sure that it's possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set a goal that you have no hope of achieving, it can be discouraging and also affect your confidence. For instance, aiming to publish four papers in a year may not be attainable, given that you do not have any control over the peer-review process. It is possible to work on four drafts but the actual publication schedule is determined by other, external factors.

R – Realistic – Considering difficulty and timeframe, is your goal attainable?

A realistic goal is context-specific and you are the only person who knows what a realistic goal is. This is because that depends on your current skills, availability and abilities. Without experience and collaboration, it is ambitious to set a goal to successfully apply for a major national grant. Another example of an unrealistic goal is to aim to end child marriage, whereas a more realistic goal could be to contribute to research that highlights the drivers of child marriage so policymakers can make use of your research to end child marriage.

T – Time-bound – Did you specify a deadline? Remember to set a clear agenda with deadlines on specific dates. Knowing the deadline of your goal allows you to know when you can celebrate your success. Deadlines increase your sense of urgency and achievement. A time-bound goal considers:

• What can I do today?
• What can I do this month?
• What can I achieve in six months?

In summary, goals are great and there is no better time to set new goals as a researcher. You must make sure that your goals: are flexible, and provide a clear map of how you can achieve your desired outcome. What are some of the goals you have set for the new year?

Dr. Oluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun (Seyi) is a social demographer with over 8 years of experience. She enjoys thinking and learning about new ways to conduct research that influence youth holistic health and wellbeing. Seyi is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Public Health of the University of Western Cape, South Africa.