Effective Goal Setting Should Be SMART
Setting goals is important in all aspects of life, whether it be in your career, education, health, relationships, etc. We all have goals, but often we leave them floating in an abstract form which makes them harder to achieve. To increase your chances of success, try using the S.M.A.R.T. method of goal setting.
Specific
What is it you want to accomplish?
Measurable
How do you know this goal has been accomplished?
Achievable
Is it possible to reach this goal within your timeline?
Relevant
Is the goal worth working hard to accomplish?
Time-based
Is there a clear timeline or deadline for accomplishing this goal?
Any goal can be made into a S.M.A.R.T. goal. By formatting your goal this way, it allows you to commit to a plan rather than just meandering without a clear direction. Let’s look at examples to understand how to utilize S.M.A.R.T. goal setting. I will begin with a general goal, then we will break it down and explore what needs to be done for it to become a S.M.A.R.T. goal.
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Goal: Save For Vacation
On the surface, this goal seems pretty straightforward. Most goals seem self-explanatory, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make them better.
Working with the above example, let’s consider what impacts this goal:
date of vacation, location
number of people you are paying for
length of stay, your current income
travel expenses, hotel costs, food costs, souvenirs or shopping, and entertainment
With S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, we can take a large and abstract goal and break it down into smaller achievable chunks or simply flesh out all the components necessary to accomplish a goal.
S.M.A.R.T. Version: My husband and I will set aside $40 from each paycheck to save $2,000 for a 5-day vacation to Branson, Missouri in June of 2023.
This format lays out exactly what we need to do in order to actually achieve the goal. This goal is specific: it lays out exactly what we want to do (go on a 5-day vacation to Branson, Missouri). This goal is measurable: we either go on vacation or we don’t.
This goal is achievable: with our current expenses, $40 from each of our paychecks is not an unreasonable amount to set aside and 14 months will give us a cushion savings of around $200. It is relevant because we personally value taking time to unwind and spend time with each other when possible. This goal is time-based because it has a clear timeline and ending point.
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Here are some more examples:
Goal: Increase Social Media Presence and Impact
S.M.A.R.T. Version: I will use media batching and scheduling software to pre plan and schedule at least one daily post at 8 a.m. for each of my social media platforms.
Goal: Write More
S.M.A.R.T. Version: I will write at least 1,000 words on my fiction projects every day.
Goal: Apply to jobs this week.
S.M.A.R.T. Version: I will apply to 15 jobs this week that really resonate with what I am looking for in my next role.
Final Thoughts…
Whether you are saving money, working out, applying to jobs or starting to get more in-touch with your mental health journey through a meditation practice, creating S.M.A.R.T. goals will help keep you on track and focused on what matters most!
Give the S.M.A.R.T. method a try with something simple and then apply your learnings to something bigger!
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Meet The Writer!
Hi! I’m Madeline Jefferson. I am a freelance writer, editor, and designer who has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge on many subjects including: fiction writing, religion, law, politics, history, literature, chronic illness, and mental health. I have a B.A. in Religion and Middle Eastern Studies from Washington and Lee University, and am beginning a Masters in Publishing through George Washington University. As a freelancer I offer services such as: blog writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, manuscript editing, and print and digital design. You can find me on: LinkedIn; Twitter, Instagram; and on my website: https://www.madelinejefferson.com/.
