SMART Goal Setting

Be smart when setting goals by following the SMART Principle.

If you are unaware of what the SMART Principle is, it stands for:

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Attainable

R = Relevant

T = Time-Bound

Specific

The more specific you can make your goal, the clearer it will be to you exactly what you want to achieve. This makes it easier to implement a plan to achieve the goal. This is the "what", "why" and "how" of the goal.

Measurable

The easiest way to make your goal measurable is to break it up into milestones. Then when you have completed the final milestone, you know you have achieved your goal.

Attainable

While goals should make you step outside your comfort zone and grow, they should also be realistic and attainable. The more you reach attainable goals, the harder you can make subsequent goals as your confidence and abilities grow.

Relevant

Is your goal really relevant to want you want in life, what you are hoping to achieve? There's no point chasing down a goal, only to discover nothing about achieving it has enriched your life in any way.

Time-Bound

Without placing deadlines on things, it's harder to be motivated to get things done. While your goal may not have to be completed by a specific time, placing time constraints on goal achievement leads to increased motivation and productivity.

There are variations on the above SMART acronym, where the letters are represented by different words, but essentially the criteria is very similar in each instance.

Be smart and apply the SMART principle.