How to SMARTly Set Goals

Whether finishing a big task or turning in a final project, we love being able to say that we completed something. It gives us a feeling of success, like we have one less thing to do. And this doesn’t have to only come from school—small goals also leave us feeling fulfilled, and they can appear anywhere. Goals don’t have to be a once-a-year endeavor, so let’s explore how to set them reasonably and fairly.

The SMART goal method focuses on creating goals that can be easily obtainable. Instead of wanting to complete repetitive and difficult actions, it encourages you to focus on small steps.

S - Specific

Your goal needs to clearly state when you want to accomplish. It should be something you could see happening, not something that’s a stretch to achieve.

M - Measurable

To make your goal specific, it should have measurable aspects. There should be a way to track progress, success, or failure, with or without numbers.

A - Achievable

Using your resources, you should be able to get your goal. It can be challenging, but you should also be able to see yourself overcoming challenges to reach the end.

R - Relevant

Your goal should make sense based on a larger scale. For example, if you want to get better grades, then a goal relating to studying would be more beneficial than a goal relating to a sport.

T - Time-bound

If your goal is going to take more than a few days or weeks, it probably isn’t going to get done. Have a window of time for achieving your goal that makes sense, which should go hand in hand with having a specific and measurable goal to begin with.

So now, instead of setting a goal like “exercise every week,” you’ll be able to set an obtainable and quantifiable goal, like “exercise for 30 minutes on two Saturdays in a row.”

When you’re able to set good goals, you’ll find yourself feeling much more satisfied and that feeling of fulfillment will become much more constant. And, if you want to check out any other educational and organizational tips and tricks, check out our other blog posts!