SMART Goals

SMART goals are clear and it's easy to check on their progress. You can use them in many places, even at work (between an employee and a boss) or in sports (between an athlete and a coach). With SMART goals, the person setting the goal knows exactly what is expected, and the person checking the goal has clear rules to see if it was met. It can help to set SMART goals for yourself so that your own communication within yourself is clearer and you can hold yourself more accountable.

S - Simple - don't overcomplicate anything any more than you have to.
M - Measurable - how will you know whether you did it or not?
A - Achievable - don't waste time on things that are impossible.
R - Relevant - don't waste time on things that are irrelevant to your situation
T - Time-bound - set an amount of time that you'd like to complete the goal within

SMART goals come in two types: short-term goals (STGs) and long-term goals (LTGs). It doesn't matter how long they take, just that one takes longer than the other. Long-term goals are the big goals you want to achieve in the end. Short-term goals are the smaller steps you take to reach your long-term goal. You usually have many short-term goals to meet before you reach a long-term goal.

Tip

  • It can help to make your Long-Term Goals a little more vague; the farther you go into the future, the less certain it is. Give yourself some wiggle room.
  • Strict Goals with hard deadlines are fine but it's a huge committment.
  • Keep your Short-Term Goals as achievable as possible, especially at the very beginning. It will be easier to keep going once you've got some momentum.