January 1

1 comments

Setting Goals that Won’t Suck in 2022

As we head into 2022, there are some people who don't believe in New Year's resolutions anymore.

Why? Because so many people have forgotten about them by February.

But it doesn't have to be that way. So long as you set S.M.A.R.T. goals. And yes, that's a mnemonic. You've probably heard it before. (I wish I could claim credit for it, but alas...).

If you follow these guidelines for setting your 2022 goals, you're more likely to stick with them. So, let's dig in.

Specific - What do you want to accomplish? Why do you want to accomplish it? Why is it important to you? The more detailed you can be, the better your motivation will be.

Measurable - Just saying "I want to lose weight" isn't enough. But, "I want to lose 30 pounds?" Now we're talking.

Measurability is a must. Otherwise, you'll get lost in the grey area, settle for losing 2 pounds, and that's that.

Attainable - We have to be realistic. "I want to be a millionaire this year" is wonderful and all. But, if you can't realistically chart out how you'll get there, then scale back.

WARNING: Don't short-change yourself either. "I want to practice for 5 minutes a day" because it's easily attainable is lame.

Relevant - You have to accomplish goals that you want to accomplish. Setting goals to please other people rarely works out.

Time-bound - You have to set a time limit. When you know the clock's running, you'll be more on task. That's just how it works.

And there you have it. S.M.A.R.T. goals.

A power-up is if you can find an accountability partner to share your goals with. And we're happy to do that for you! Think about your goals for the year and share them with us in the comments below.

We would love to hear all about your plans to level up your life in 2022.

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For parents, students, and anyone else who believes that music can and should be a meaningful part of everyone's life.

About Jonathan Roberts

I am the founder and director of the South Shore Piano School, and I have been teaching the piano for nearly 20 years. My work centers around bringing music to the lives of kids, parents, and adults in an enriching, meaningful way. At the South Shore Piano School, my incredible colleagues and I accomplish this through skill-based teaching, community, and an innovative, people-first business model. You can read more about me here.


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  1. Im a big fan of the band, Queen & I so admire Freddy Mercury’s incredible piano skills!! I’ve decided I’m going to try to learn Bohemian Rhapsody this year ( as well as my scales!!) Am I crazy??!! Probably!! I’m no virtuoso but I’ve set up some goals using the S.M.A.R.T. Process and I’m determined to work on it following the goals I have set up for practice. As I’ve mentioned before, in all of my years playing music & practicing, I had never used Mrs Lambs advice to plan out each practice session. So hopefully if I implement her advice, I WILL reach my goal and make Freddie Mercury proud in my performance of his Rock Opera song