Goal Setting

Setting a Goal? Be S.M.A.R.T. about it!

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Do you find that you are creating goals that you can never accomplish?
There are many reasons for this: maybe you are lacking motivation, maybe the goal is
too big or too broad, or maybe you just don’t really care about it.

What can help is to create S.M.A.R.T. goals.
S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for specific, meaningful, adaptive, realistic, and time-bound, which I will describe below. 

SPECIFIC 

Make the different parts of the goal specific, rather than leaving it vague. This means naming the actions you will take, when and where you will do so, and who or what is involved.  

Example of a vague goal: I will spend more time going to the gym. 

Example of a specific goal: I will spend an hour at the gym in the evenings on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. 

MEANINGFUL 

Most of the time for most people to find motivation to complete a goal it needs to be something that is personally meaningful. If it is guided by your values, you will be more motivated to complete it rather than if it is something that someone else wants you to do. 

ADAPTIVE 

When making a goal think about whether it is something that will help you live the life you want to live, which is usually a better or more adaptive life. 

REALISTIC 

Make your goal something that you can actually accomplish. Do not make it too big, and take into consideration your abilities, skills, knowledge, financial resources, health, and if you have the time to achieve it. 

TIMEBOUND

Set a reasonable time limit to achieve your goal. If you have a broad timeframe in which to complete your goal it is possible that you will keep putting it off. If possible, try to set a day, date, and time to complete your goal.