Setting SMART Goals? How to Make Them Achievable Targets

Introduction

Do you have a dream or a vision for your life? Do you want to achieve something meaningful and fulfilling? Do you want to grow and improve yourself in some way?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to set goals for yourself. Goals are the stepping stones that lead you to your desired outcome. They help you focus your efforts, measure your progress, and motivate you to keep going.

But not all goals are created equal. Some goals are vague, unrealistic, or irrelevant. These goals can make you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or discouraged. They can also distract you from what really matters to you.

That’s why you need to set SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These are the criteria that make your goals clear, realistic, and meaningful.

In this article, you will learn how to set SMART goals for yourself and how to turn them into achievable targets. You will also see some examples of SMART goals and achievable targets for different areas of your life.

By the end of this article, you will be able to set your own SMART goals and achieve them with confidence and ease.

Also read: What are Measurable Objectives and How to Define Them » Upgrade Your Life (lifeupgrad.com)

What are SMART goals and why are they important?

SMART goals are goals that meet the following criteria:

• Specific: Your goal should be clear and precise, not vague or general. You should be able to answer the questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how about your goal.
• Measurable: Your goal should have a way to track and evaluate your progress and success. You should be able to quantify your goal with numbers, percentages, or other indicators.
• Achievable: Your goal should be realistic and attainable, not impossible or out of reach. You should have the resources, skills, and abilities to accomplish your goal.
• Relevant: Your goal should be aligned with your values, vision, and purpose. It should also be compatible with your other goals and priorities.
• Time-bound: Your goal should have a deadline or a timeframe to complete it. This creates a sense of urgency and accountability for your goal.

SMART goals are important because they help you:

• Clarify your expectations and intentions
• Focus your attention and energy on what matters
• Break down your goal into manageable steps and actions
• Monitor your progress and adjust your strategies if needed
• Celebrate your achievements and reward yourself

How to set SMART goals for yourself

Setting SMART goals for yourself is not difficult, but it does require some thought and planning. Here are some steps you can follow to set SMART goals for yourself:

1. Identify your vision and purpose: Before you set any goal, you need to know what you want to achieve and why. Think about your long-term vision and purpose for your life. What are your values, passions, and aspirations? What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of impact do you want to make? Write down your vision and purpose in a sentence or two.
2. Brainstorm your goals: Based on your vision and purpose, think of some goals that you want to pursue. These can be short-term or long-term goals, personal or professional goals, big or small goals. Don’t limit yourself or judge your ideas at this stage. Just write down as many goals as you can think of.
3. Evaluate and prioritize your goals: Now that you have a list of goals, you need to evaluate and prioritize them. Ask yourself: Which goals are most important to you? Which goals are most relevant to your vision and purpose? Which goals are most urgent or timely? Which goals are most feasible or realistic? Rank your goals from highest to lowest priority.
4. Choose one goal to focus on: Once you have prioritized your goals, choose one goal to focus on at a time. This will help you avoid spreading yourself too thin or losing sight of your main objective. You can always work on other goals later, after you have achieved your current goal.
5. Make your goal SMART: Now that you have chosen your goal, you need to make it SMART. Use the SMART criteria to refine and define your goal. Make sure your goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Write down your SMART goal in a sentence or two.
6. Write down your action plan: The last step is to write down your action plan for achieving your SMART goal. This is where you break down your goal into smaller and more manageable steps and tasks. For each step or task, write down what you need to do, when you need to do it, how you will do it, and who will help you or support you. You can also write down any potential obstacles or challenges that you might face and how you will overcome them. Your action plan should be detailed, realistic, and flexible.

How to turn your SMART goals into achievable targets

Setting SMART goals is only the first part of the process. The second part is to turn your SMART goals into achievable targets. Achievable targets are the milestones or checkpoints that you set for yourself along the way to your SMART goal. They help you measure your progress, stay on track, and celebrate your successes.

To turn your SMART goals into achievable targets, you need to:

• Divide your SMART goal into smaller sub-goals: Depending on the size and complexity of your SMART goal, you may need to divide it into smaller sub-goals. These are the intermediate outcomes that you need to achieve before you reach your final goal. For example, if your SMART goal is to lose 20 pounds in 6 months, your sub-goals could be to lose 5 pounds every month, or to lose 1 pound every week.
• Make your sub-goals SMART as well: Just like your main goal, your sub-goals should also be SMART. They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This will make them easier to track and accomplish. For example, if your sub-goal is to lose 5 pounds every month, you can make it SMART by saying: I will lose 5 pounds every month by following a healthy diet and exercising for 30 minutes every day.
• Set a deadline and a reward for each sub-goal: To make your sub-goals more motivating and exciting, you should set a deadline and a reward for each one. A deadline creates a sense of urgency and accountability for your sub-goal. A reward gives you something to look forward to and enjoy after you achieve your sub-goal. For example, if your sub-goal is to lose 5 pounds every month, you can set a deadline of the last day of the month and a reward of buying yourself a new outfit or going out for a nice dinner.
• Review and revise your sub-goals regularly: As you work on your sub-goals, you should review and revise them regularly. This will help you monitor your progress, identify any problems or challenges, and adjust your strategies if needed. You should also celebrate your achievements and reward yourself for each sub-goal that you complete. This will boost your confidence and motivation for the next sub-goal.

Examples of SMART goals and achievable targets

To give you some inspiration and guidance, here are some examples of SMART goals and achievable targets for different areas of your life:

• Career: I will get promoted to a senior manager position in my company by the end of this year by exceeding my performance targets, taking on more responsibilities, and completing a leadership training course.
  • Sub-goals:
    • I will exceed my performance targets by delivering high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and exceeding customer expectations every quarter.
    • I will take on more responsibilities by volunteering for new projects, mentoring junior staff, and leading cross-functional teams every month.
    • I will complete a leadership training course by enrolling in an online program, attending all the sessions, and passing all the assessments by June.
  • Deadlines and rewards:
    • I will review my performance targets every quarter and reward myself with a spa day or a weekend getaway for each quarter that I exceed them.
    • I will track my responsibilities every month and reward myself with a movie night or a dinner with friends for each month that I take on more responsibilities.
    • I will finish my leadership training course by June and reward myself with a certificate or a badge for completing it.
• Health: I will run a half-marathon in 3 months by following a training plan, improving my diet, and joining a running club.
  • Sub-goals:
    • I will follow a training plan by running 3 times a week, increasing my distance and speed gradually, and resting and stretching properly every day.
    • I will improve my diet by eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, and reducing my intake of sugar and processed foods every day.
    • I will join a running club by finding a local group, signing up for their membership, and attending their weekly runs and events every week.
  • Deadlines and rewards:
    • I will check my training plan every week and reward myself with a new running gear or a massage for each week that I follow it.
    • I will monitor my diet every day and reward myself with a healthy treat or a cheat meal for each day that I improve it.
    • I will participate in the running club every week and reward myself with a social event or a medal for each week that I join them.
• Personal development: I will learn a new language in 6 months by taking an online course, practicing with native speakers, and immersing myself in the culture.
  • Sub-goals:
    • I will take an online course by choosing a reputable platform, enrolling in a beginner level, and completing all the lessons and exercises every week.
    • I will practice with native speakers by finding a language exchange partner, scheduling regular sessions, and conversing in the target language every day.
    • I will immerse myself in the culture by watching movies, listening to music, reading books, and following news and social media in the target language every day.
  • Deadlines and rewards:
    • I will finish the online course in 4 months and reward myself with a certificate or a badge for completing it.
    • I will practice with native speakers for 6 months and reward myself with a trip or a gift from the target country for improving my skills.
    • I will immerse myself in the culture for 6 months and reward myself with a cultural event or a souvenir from the target country for expanding my knowledge.

Conclusion

Setting goals is a powerful way to achieve your dreams and improve your life. But not all goals are effective and beneficial. You need to set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. These are the goals that will help you clarify your expectations, focus your efforts, measure your progress, and motivate you to keep going.

But setting SMART goals is not enough. You also need to turn your SMART goals into achievable targets. These are the milestones or checkpoints that you set for yourself along the way to your SMART goal. They help you divide your goal into smaller and more manageable steps, track your progress, celebrate your successes, and adjust your strategies if needed.

In this article, you learned how to set SMART goals for yourself and how to turn them into achievable targets. You also saw some examples of SMART goals and achievable targets for different areas of your life. You can use these examples as a reference or inspiration for your own goal setting.

Now it’s your turn. What are your SMART goals and achievable targets? How will you pursue them and achieve them? Share your thoughts and plans in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more tips and tricks on how to live your best life.

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Frequently asked questions and their answers

• What is the difference between a goal and a target?
  • A goal is a desired outcome or result that you want to achieve. A target is a specific, measurable, and time-bound indicator of your progress or success towards your goal. For example, if your goal is to improve your health, your target could be to lose 10 pounds in 3 months.
• How do I choose the right goal for me?
  • The right goal for you is the one that aligns with your vision and purpose, reflects your values and passions, and challenges you to grow and improve. You can use the SMART criteria to evaluate and refine your goal. You can also ask yourself: Does this goal excite me and inspire me? Does this goal matter to me and others? Does this goal make me happy and fulfilled?
• How do I stay motivated and committed to my goal?
  • There are many ways to stay motivated and committed to your goal, such as:
    • Reminding yourself of your vision and purpose, and how your goal contributes to them.
    • Visualizing your goal and imagining how you will feel when you achieve it.
    • Breaking down your goal into smaller and more manageable steps and tasks, and focusing on one at a time.
    • Setting achievable targets and rewarding yourself for each one that you complete.
    • Seeking support and feedback from others who share your goal or have achieved it before.
    • Tracking your progress and celebrating your achievements, no matter how big or small.
    • Learning from your mistakes and failures, and using them as opportunities to improve and grow.