SMART Goals: Achieving Your Goals with a Strategic Plan
Goal setting is a crucial part of personal and professional development. However, setting vague or unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and disappointment. This is where S.M.A.R.T. goals come in.
S.M.A.R.T. goals are a framework for creating goals that are clear, concise, and actionable. The acronym S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework helps to ensure that your goals are realistic, achievable, and have a clear direction.
In this blog post, we will discuss what S.M.A.R.T. goals are, how to create them, and provide you with references to further your understanding.
Specific
A specific goal is clear, concise, and focused. It answers the questions who, what, why, where, and which. For example, a non-specific goal would be "I want to eat healthier." A specific goal would be "I want to eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day to increase my fiber intake by 30 mg/day."
Measurable
A measurable goal is one that can be tracked and measured over time. It answers the question, "how much?" Using the previous example, a measurable goal would be "I want to eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day for the next month."
Achievable
An achievable goal is realistic and attainable. It answers the question, "can I do this?" Using the previous example, an achievable goal would be "I want to eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day for the next month, and I will start by meal prepping on Sundays."
Relevant
A relevant goal is one that aligns with your values and long-term objectives. It answers the question, "does this matter to me?" Using the previous example, a relevant goal would be "I want to eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day for the next month because I want to improve my overall health and well-being."
Time-bound
A time-bound goal has a specific deadline or timeframe. It answers the question, "when will I achieve this?" Using the previous example, a time-bound goal would be "I want to eat three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day for the next month, starting today and ending on June 30th."
How to Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Creating S.M.A.R.T. goals is a step-by-step process. Here are the steps you can take to create S.M.A.R.T. goals:
Identify the area of your life or career that you want to improve.
Determine what you want to achieve in that area.
Make sure your goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Write your goal down and review it regularly.
Create an action plan to achieve your goal.
Track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Celebrate your successes and learn from your failures.
References
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2013). New developments in goal setting and task performance. Routledge.
MindTools. (2021). SMART Goals: How to Make Your Goals Achievable.
Forbes Coaches Council. (2019). Setting SMART Goals: How to Do it Correctly.
