WHAT ARE S.M.A.R.T. GOALS?
From personal to professional, goals come in every shape and form. We create attractive goals like losing weight or saving money, however, most of us fail to achieve them. In fact, only 30% of those who set goals actually achieve them. Why do so many of us fail?
First, you need to get honest with yourself and determine if what you want to achieve is a goal or a dream. Dreams are wishes we create in our minds that are often unattainable and unrealistic, while goals are actionable items that require focus and attention to complete.
Goals that are well-thought-out and are designed with the right structure are easier to achieve. A popular method of goal setting is creating SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Let’s dive into what each of these parts means for your goal-setting journey.
SPECIFIC
The first step in goal-setting is to make sure it is specific. Broad and general goals are difficult to determine the path you need to take to achieve that goal. Narrow down your goal with clear steps on how you can actually achieve it.
Make sure to keep the 5 W’s in mind as you create your goals:
Who is involved in this goal?
What do I want to accomplish?
Where is it located?
When do I want to reach this goal?
Why do I want to accomplish this?
Example: My personal goal is to brush up on my Spanish before I go to Spain next month. A general goal would be “I want to learn Spanish”. However, a specific goal would be “I want to download Duolingo and practice Spanish 5 days a week in order to better communicate when traveling to Spain next month”.
MEASURABLE
Creating measurable goals allows you to track progress to ensure you’re on the way to achieving them. Without a measurable goal, it’s hard to understand if the effort you are putting in is making a difference. Tracking your progress along the way can even increase your motivation as you start to see results.
Ask yourself:
How many/much do I need?
How will you know when you’ve achieved your goal?
What are indicators you are on track?
Example: Building on my goal above, “I want to download Duolingo and practice Spanish 5 days a week in order to communicate when traveling to Spain next month”. To make it measurable I will add, “I need to complete 2 new levels each week”.
ACHIEVABLE
When you are creating your goals, it’s important to make them challenging yet attainable. If they are impossible to achieve, then you are setting yourself up for failure from the beginning. Make them challenging, yet achievable.
Do you have the resources and capabilities necessary to achieve this goal?
Is it genuinely possible to achieve?
Example: Is completing 2 new levels on Duolingo per week achievable? Yes, but it will take some discipline. This will be a challenge, but it is possible.
REALISTIC
Make sure your goals are realistic given the time in your life and the resources available to you. Avoid setting unrealistic goals that take more time, money, and effort than you can or are willing to give. Being honest with yourself is the difference between setting realistic goals versus stating dreams.
Is my goal achievable given my time and resources?
Will this goal overwhelm me or create added stress?
Are you able to commit to achieving this goal?
Example: Can I commit to completing 2 new levels on Duolingo per week? Yes. There are no monetary restrictions since Duolingo is a free program. I will have to designate 10 to 15 minutes daily to work towards this goal, but it is a realistic amount of time for me.
TIME-BOUND
Add an end date on which you want to achieve your goal. Adding a time-bound element to your goal will drive the urgency you need to complete your goal. Whether it’s days, months, or years, make sure to add an end date to reach your goal.
When do I want to achieve my goal?
Is it realistic to achieve this goal during that time?
What steps do I need to take to achieve my goal by that date?
Example: My trip to Spain is in one month, therefore my goal end date is the day I leave for my trip. Therefore, for a little over 4 weeks, I will strive to complete 2 new levels on Duolingo weekly to prepare myself for my trip.
BOTTOM LINE
Whether they are small or large, it’s important to create well-thought-out and attainable goals. Failing to take into account the time and resources necessary to complete your goal will only hurt you. Be realistic with yourself upfront, and structure goals in a way that will be achievable for you.
