Summary: Want to start 2015 with a bang and <a href="http://couplemoneypodcast.com">build up your marriage and money</a>? Today’s show is made for you.<br> In this episode we talk about:<br> <br> * Why Most People Fail to Achieve Their Goals<br> * How Habits Form and How We Can Change Them<br> * Create Systems to Break Through and Have Success<br> <br> While the focus is on money, I really hope you use this information for other aspects in your life and reach your goals for this year and beyond.<br> [smart_track_player url=”http://media.blubrry.com/couplemoney/traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CM_014_Make_SMART_Goals_Change_Your_Habits_and_Build_Systems.mp3″ ]<br> Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/couple-money-podcast-build/id924656111">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/elle-martinez/couple-money-podcast?refid=stpr">Stitcher</a>, or copy <a href="http://couplemoneypodcast.com/feed/podcast/">this link to use</a> with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on <a href="https://twitter.com/CMoneyPod">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/couplemoney">Facebook</a>.<br> The Problem with (Most) Goals<a href="http://couplemoneypodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2015-Smart-Goals-Change-Habits.png"></a><br> “I’m going to lose 10 lbs.”<br><br> ‘I’m going to pay off my debt.’<br><br> “I’m going to switch careers.”<br> We hear these goals and more every January, but just how many people actually achieve their goals?<br> <a href="http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/why-new-years-resolutions-fail/">Failure almost seems set-up at the beginning when people make their goals</a>. The most common mistakes tend to be:<br> <br> * They’re too vague.<br> * No deadline.<br> * No incentive.<br> * Not realistic<br> <br> Does that mean we should stop making goals? No, it just means you have to <a href="http://www.hr.virginia.edu/uploads/documents/media/Writing_SMART_Goals.pdf">make SMART goals</a><br> Make SMART Goals<br> SMART is an acronym to help you construct a constructive goal.<br> <br> * Specific: Be explicit on what you want to achieve.<br> * Measurable: How do you know when you reached your goal? Pick a number and keep tabs on your progress.<br> * Attainable: Looking at your budget, can you achieve this goal?<br> * Realistic: Look at your past behaviors and see what would be reasonable.<br> * Time Based: Make a deadline for your goal. It’ll make it easier to break things down into smaller steps that you can work towards.<br> <br> So let’s take your investing more for retirement goal.<br><br> Using the SMART formula that could become -> “I want to invest $2,000 into my Roth IRA account by December 31st by contributing $167/month.”<br> As you can see how this is an improvement – you have measurable goal with a general plan to follow.<br> Making change though takes time and for most people, it means changing our habits. Easier said then done, right?<br> Fortunately we can change our habits thanks in part to recent discoveries in neuroscience and psychology. Charles Duhigg’s book <a href="http://charlesduhigg.com/the-power-of-habit/">The Power of Habit</a> shows us how we can do this.<br> Change Your Habits, Change Your Life<br> We underestimate the power of habits and one reason is how easily we slip into them. Duhigg cited a study done at Duke University in his book where researchers found that <a href="http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/15/4/198.abstract">over 40% of the decisions we engage in on a daily basis is a habit</a>.<br> But just what is a habit?<br> There are 3 basic components to habits – cues, routines, and rewards.<br> <br> * Cues – triggers for behavior<br> * Routine – behavior you want to modify<br>
