Setting goals for ourselves keeps us motivated and clarifies our objectives. Without them, you will accomplish little and life can become a sequence of chaotic scenes that you can’t control. If you want to achieve the goals you set for yourself, you need to establish S.M.A.R.T goals. These are goals defined as Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.
Setting S.M.A.R.T Goals
By setting S.M.A.R.T goals you will find that the goals you are trying to reach are more manageable. They’re structured with practical paths so that your biggest goals are attainable. Using them will give you clear milestones and allow you to assess the achievability of your goals. Visit 41 S.M.A.R.T Goal Setting Templates & Worksheets to help get your goals organized.
Timely Goals
You definitely need to set a deadline for accomplishing each of your goals. Using a deadline allows you to plan your time and pace yourself appropriately to reach your goals. Setting a completion date for each goal will help you stay on track.
A good tip to remember is that you can break down a large goal that may be difficult to accomplish and turn it into smaller, more manageable pieces that you can work toward over an extended period of time. If you only write down your goal’s due date on the calendar, it gives you the opportunity to procrastinate and increases your chances of missing the deadline. Instead, create mini-milestones that allow you to better view your progress.
Every time you meet one of those mini-goals that you had set, reward yourself! It doesn’t need to be some lavish, expensive gift. Spending a night out with friends and having a nice dinner is a great way to tell yourself, “Nice job!” Write down what your reward will be under each mini-goal to give yourself some extra incentive to get them done.
Specific S.M.A.R.T Goals
Setting specific goals give you well-defined goals that will steer you in the right direction you need to go to be successful. Be precise, so that it’s clear what you are working toward. Figure out who will be involved in assisting you to reach your goals, exactly what you want to accomplish when you reach your goals, and how you will make it all happen.
Measurable Goals
Now that you’ve determined the who, what, when, and how you are going to accomplish your goals, you need to figure out how to assess your progress. By making your goals measurable, you’re able to know how close you are to accomplishing them or how far you still have to go.
Attainable Goals
In order to be successful in your goal progress, you have to be sure they’re attainable. Attainable goals are goals that you are confident you can achieve and have resources available in order to accomplish them. The question you will need to ask yourself in determining if your goals are attainable is, “Do I have all the needed resources to make this happen?” Look ahead in your planning to accommodate possible problems or issues that may arise. By being better prepared your goals will be more attainable,
Relevant S.M.A.R.T Goals
It’s important that when you layout your goals you make sure that you choose goals that are a good fit for you and your lifestyle. Don’t set goals out of pressure from someone else because they feel it’s right for you. To be successful, always choose goals that are relevant and meaningful to you personally.
Choosing S.M.A.R.T goals is a great way to successfully accomplish all the things you want in life. For more great advice see our previous post, How a Side Hustle Can Cure Workplace Burnout.
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