Lesson 2: Applying SMART Goals

Welcome to the second mini lesson of the second unit of this Time Management Mini Course!

In this lesson, we will focus on how to develop specific and measurable goals using the SMART criteria.

Developing Clear Goals.

To create effective goals using SMART criteria, follow these steps:

Specific (S): Clearly define what you want to achieve.

Ask yourself:

What exactly do I want to accomplish?

Why is this goal important?

Who else is involved or affected?

Example: “I want to improve my public speaking skills” turns into “Deliver a confident and engaging memo to the rest of my peers”

You try → On a piece of paper turn “Improve my presentation skills” into something more specific.

Measurable (M): Establish ways to track your progress and measure success.

Ask yourself:

How will I know when the goal is achieved?

What are the quantifiable indicators of progress?

Example: “Walk more” turns into “Have a total of 10,00 steps by the end of the day”

You try → On a piece of paper turn “increase sales” into something more measurable.

Achievable (A): Ensure that the goal is realistic and attainable.

What to consider:

Do I have the necessary resources like time, skills, support to achieve this goal?

Is the goal challenging yet within reach?

Example: “Run the Boston Marathon” becomes “Complete a beginner run track within two months of practicing.

You try → On a piece of paper turn “Become a professional athlete in one year” into something more achievable.

Relevant (R): Align your goals with your overall objectives and priorities.

Ask yourself:

Does this goal contribute to my long-term goals?

Is this goal meaningful and relevant to my personal or professional growth?

Example: “Learn how to cook” becomes “Learn how to cook to develop a better relationship with food and decreasing unnecessary spending on takeout.”

You Try → On a piece of paper turn “Learn a new language” into something more relevant.

Time-bound (T): Set a specific timeframe or deadline for achieving the goal.

Ask yourself:

By when do I want to accomplish this goal?

What is the deadline for completion?

Example: “Start my project” turns into “Start my project by end of day tomorrow."

You Try → On a piece of paper “start a blog” into something with a time constraint.

Applying SMART Goals in Practice

Now, let's apply the steps to a real-life scenario:

Scenario: You want to improve your fitness level by incorporating regular exercise into your routine.

Traditional Goal: "I want to exercise more."

SMART Goal: "I will jog for 30 minutes, five days a week, in the park near my house, starting next Monday, to improve my gut health and stamina."

In this example:

Specific: The goal specifies the type of exercise: jogging, how long it takes: 30 minutes, frequency: five days a week, location: park, and purpose: improve gut health and increase stamina.
Measurable: Progress can be measured by tracking the number of days and duration of jogging sessions completed.
Achievable: The goal is realistic and attainable based on available time and physical capabilities.
Relevant: Improving fitness aligns with broader health objectives.
Time-bound: The goal has a clear start date: next Monday; and timeframe: continuous.

You try: Turn the traditional goal below into a SMART goal.

Traditional Goal: “I want to be more organized”

To see possible answer to the "You Try" answers, click the link below.

              Sarah Kone's Mini Course | Unit 2 | Back: Lesson 1 | Next: Lesson 3