Making Goals SMART

Science has shown that goals should be SMART, which often (but not always) stands for:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time Bound

Download a free SMART goals printable worksheet to make your goal SMART:

1. Specific – Use this helpful formula at How to Make Goals Specific & Measurable.
2. Measurable – Break goals down into action steps.
3. Attainable (or Actionable) – Choose actions to take. Goals should be just the right size, with a bit of challenge and stretch, but not so out of reach as to be unrealistic.
4. Relevant (and Rewarded) – Choose goals that are meaningful to you, and rewards for progress.
5. Time Bound (or Targeted) – set target dates based on the size & difficulty of the goal.
6. Even SMARTER goals are also Evaluated & Reviewed. –  Evaluate goals to be sure they align with your values and that you are still excited by them. Keep your goal master list visible and visual. Monitor progress with Reviews: weekly, monthly, and an annual review.

Types of Goals

A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. Usually a resolution is a habit you want to create and maintain indefinitely. There is no end point, as they are on-going actions that you intend to continue. Once they become a habit, they are easier to maintain and require less attention. Are Your Resolutions SMART?

A goal is an aim or desired result with a clear end point, so you know when it has been accomplished.

Examples of different goal frequencies:

• daily: I will drink eight glasses of water every day.
• weekly: I will increase time with family by spending at least 30 minutes each week one-on-one with each person doing an activity of their choice.
• monthly/yearly: I will save $1200/year by making a $100 deposit in my savings account every month and track with a chart to reach the target date of twelve months from today.

Choose a habit tracker or goal charts for tracking progress according to frequency.

Learn more about How to Set Goals and find lots of free printables at the Goal Toolkit.

I like this take from Cal Wick that describes the process of setting goals in the book “The Learning Edge”:

Select a goal
Map out the work required
Act on the plan
Review and evaluate
Target the next goal

I’m also liking the HARD goals idea from Mark Murphy:

H – Heartfelt: Connect to your why.

A – Animated: Keep Goals Visual and Visible.

R – Required: goals that are important and necessary.

D -Difficult: goals that push the boundaries of our comfort zones provide the right amount of stretch.

These are all elements that aid us in achieving flow.

Read more about SMART Goals:

• Mindtools on SMART Goals.
• How to Set SMART Goals at ProductiveFlourishing
• Adding in the Why from Rightattitudes.com
• Adding in A for Accountability for SMARTA Goals at Lifehack.org
• Bushwacking for Hipsters 4: Making Your Goals SMARTer at DIYPlanner.
• How To Measure Progress in Your Personal Goals from bufferapp
• Five Steps to SMART Goal Setting from getorganizedwizard.com , with another example here.

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.