How To Set Up Smart Goals
When it comes to setting goals up in detail, it is important to set up SMART goals.
SMART goals stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Based.
This formula will help you to create a solid foundation when it comes to setting up goals.
In this blog post, learn what the acronyms mean in detail in reference due to the SMART goal formula.
Specific
When it comes to setting up your goals, you want to make sure you set them up to where it is designed as specific and in great detail. Going into detail when establishing your goal is important.
It is important when creating your goals that you establish a well thought out plan by being specific.
In order to determine if your goal is specific enough, consider if it could be something easily identified if you have achieved it. If not, just work towards making it more specific.
Measurable
It is also important to set your goals up where they can be measurable. So when creating your goal, you want to consider if if you have a specific timeline set where you can measure how far you have come as a benchmark. Providing measurable benchmarks are a great way for you to see progress that can help boost your motivation when you have the ability to see how far you have come.
If you have not set up benchmarks for your goals, strategically implement that into your timeline for your goals when you are creating your plan.
Recruiting accountability partners can be a great way of having another person hold you accountable towards your goals and measure your progress as well if needed.
Achievable
Making sure that you set goals that are achievable is very important as well. In order to evaluate if your goal is achievable, consider what resources do you currently have available to make it achievable?
Are there people such as mentors that can help you for support towards your goals? The resources that you may not have, is it easily attainable? If not, what resources would be needed in order to achieve your goals to make them achievable?
If there are things in your current state that will make the goal unachievable, make adjustments to consider what is needed and what would it take to seek the resources needed.
Once you determine what adjustments need to be made, readjust your timeframe of when the goal is expected to be completed.
Realistic
Once you have discovered your limitations that could be a potential block towards your goals and you have made adjustments in order for your goals to be realistic.
After fully analyzing your ultimate plan with potential unseen circumstances in mind with potential solutions considered, at this point, is it still a realistic goal?
Remember, the bigger and more challenging the goal, the better. If it does not scare or challenge you then it is not big enough.
How bad do you want it? If it is challenging and can take a lot of work, are you willing to put in the effort to accomplish it?
In other words, is your goal big enough? If you find yourself not as motivated, then the goal of not being big enough may be the case. If you are struggling with motivation or feel that maybe you have not defined if your goal is big enough or not, check out my previous blog post on this subject by clicking here.
Time-Framed
Once you have mapped out a plan for your goal, have you set a time frame on when you estimate it to be completed? Is there a clear date specifically set or a set duration of time?
In order to effectively set up an effective timeline for your goals, you have to strategically sit down and think of not just every detail of your goal but making sure each step is mapped out in order.
For example, if you want to start an online business and have no idea where to start, the first step is to do research so that should be the first item on your list.
When you are going into detail specifically with each step, write specific tasks associated with research such as what resources do you already have available that can be helpful.
Are you enrolled in online courses that can be helpful? If not, where can you find those courses and list them? Are there books that you have that could be helpful? Is there someone you personally know as a mentor that can help? Are there people online you can reach out to for help? Helpful websites etc.?
These are a few questions to consider when looking to research as a start and just implementing the SMART formula will help create an effective plan as an example.
When you are creating a timeline, create realistically how long each task will take in addition to your daily schedule as you create your timeline.
Outcomes
Last but not least, you want to focus on the outcome. Do not get so caught up with focusing on the tasks which at times can create demotivation if it is a task that you do not want to do which can create procrastination.
To eliminate procrastination, instead, focus on the outcome, the reason why you created the goal in the first place. Once you have clearly defined your goal, keep your mind focused on it daily.
You can stay focused on your goals on a daily basis by meditating which can help eliminate any fear or lack of confidence etc. You can also take the time to visualize yourself achieving your goal on a daily basis. For more information on this subject, you can click here.
If you are struggling with motivation at times, I wrote a previous blog post about how to stay motivated that you can read about by clicking here.
