Put It Into Action
Now that you have a plan, it's time to put it into action! We've created a tool to help you make sure your goals are SMART:
• Specific – Objective clearly states, so anyone reading it can understand, what will be done and who will do it. Is this a goal for Mom and Dad? For the kids? The whole family? What exactly are you looking to achieve?
• Measurable – Objective includes how the action will be measured. Measuring your objectives helps you determine if you are making progress and keeps you on track and on schedule. Are you going to start having dinner together five times a week? Are you implementing a weekly family meeting?
• Achievable – Objective is realistic given the realities faced in your family. If the kids have practices that keep you out of the house 4 nights a week, nightly family dinners might not be the most achievable goal right now.
• Relevant – A relevant objective makes sense, that is, it fits the purpose of the goal. When Mom and Dad are looking to strengthen their marriage, a weekly outing with the kids is probably not relevant to this goal.
• Time-bound – Every objective has a specific timeline for completion. When are you going to implement your stated goal? Setting a date helps keep everyone motivated and on track.