How to Set SMART Goals

SMART is an acronym for Effective Goal Creation Framework. It stands for the five qualities that a goal must have: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time control. -bound). The SMART method is one of the most popular and effective tools for setting realistic and achievable goals. You could be the head of an organization of 300 people or a small business owner. Or simply someone who wants to lose weight. Whoever it is, learning how to set SMART goals can increase your chances of success.

Table of Contents

Set Specific Objectives (S)

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Decide what you want. The first step in the goal-setting process is to decide what you want to achieve. At this stage, you can generalize.

Whether long-term or short-term goals, most people start with a general idea. You go from general to specific by adding details and specifying a time. ^{[1] X Research Sources Fischhoff, B., Slovic, P., & Lichtenstein, S. (1988). Knowing what you want: Measuring labile values. Decision Making: Descriptive, Normative and Prescriptive Interactions, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 398-421. (Chapter 18)}
For example, your initial goal is to be healthy. Knowing this is the first step towards creating specific goals.

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Be specific. “Specific” is the “S” in SMART. The chance of accomplishing a specific goal is greater than a general goal. ^{[2] X Research Resources Morisano, D., Hirsh, JB, Peterson, JB, Pihl, RO, & Shore, BM (2010). Setting, elaborating, and reflecting on personal goals improving academic performance. Journal of Applied Psychpogy, 95(2), 255.)} So your task at this stage is to break down the thought in step 1 into something concrete.

Much of the problem is determining the time period. According to the example above, you should ask yourself what “healthier” means to you? Maybe more exercise? Losing weight? Eat a balanced menu? All ingredients are related to health, and it depends on what you want to do.

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Identify the people involved. A good way to set specific goals is to answer 6 “W” questions: Who (Who), What (What), When, Where (Where), What (Which), and Why why (why). Start by asking who is involved. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If the goal is to lose weight, the correct answer is you. However, some goals require you to associate with others.

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Ask what you want to accomplish. This is the basic question of what you hope to achieve. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If you want to lose weight, you should start answering the “what” question in a more specific way! How much weight do you want to lose?

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Determine where it happened. Identify the position where you struggle to achieve the goal. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If you want to lose weight, you can work out at work (walking during your lunch break), at home (do weight loss exercises) and exercise.

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Think about the time it happened. Create specific timetables and deadlines for achieving goals. ^{[6] X Source of Research} This will focus much of the end of the process on achieving the goal. For now, you just think about the big picture.

If the goal is to lose 10 kg, you can achieve it in a few months. On the other hand, if the goal is to get a fitness certification, the time period can be up to several years.

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Decide requirements and limitations of the process. ^{[7] X Research Source} In other words, what do you need to achieve your goal? What obstacles do you face?

If your goal is to lose weight, the requirement is that you exercise and eat healthy. Obstacles are self-aversion to exercise or cravings for sweets.

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What is the reason you set the goal? ^{[8] X Research Source} Give specific reasons and benefits for accomplishing the goal. Understanding the “why” is important to determining if your goals are in line with your desires.

For example, imagine your goal is to lose 20 kg with the excuse of wanting to be noticed. If the real goal is to become famous instead of healthy, you can choose another way to achieve that goal. You can practice to be more open-minded, instead of just focusing on looks.

Set a Measurable Goal (M)

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Create a “ruler” to measure results. Your job is to set the standard for success. This makes it easy to stay in control of the process and know when you’ve reached your goal.

Standards can be quantitative or qualitative. ^{[9] X Research Source}
If possible, set a specific number for the goal. That way you’ll see if you’re falling behind or not.
For example, if the goal is to lose weight, you can set a quantity goal to lose 15 kg. You know your current weight, so it will be easy to determine when to accomplish your goal. A quality goal might be “I want to fit the jeans I wore five years ago”. That way your goal can be calculated.

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Asking questions sharpens focus. You can ask multiple questions to make sure your target falls in the computable row:

How much? For example, “How much weight do you want to lose?”
How much? For example, “How many times a week do you want to go to the gym?”
How will I know if I have accomplished my goal? ^{[10] X Research Source} Is it when you step on the scale and see that you have lost 10 kg? or 20 kg?

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Check and calculate progress. Calcable goals make it easy to determine if you’re on track.

For example, if your goal is to lose 10 kg and you’ve lost 8 kg, you know you’re close. On the other hand, if it’s been a month and you’ve only lost 1 kg, it’s time to change your strategy.
Write diary. This is a great way to track your efforts, results, and feelings. Dedicating 15 minutes a day to journaling can help you keep things specific and relieve stress in the process. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Ensure Goal Can Be Done (A)

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Evaluate your limits. You need to make sure your goals are achievable. ^{[12] X Source of Research} Otherwise you will become depressed.

Consider the difficulties and obstacles you may face and assess your ability to overcome them. To achieve the goal you have to face the challenge. The question here is whether you are capable of achieving your goals and overcoming challenges.
Be honest about time spent on goals as well as background, personal insights, and physical limitations. Think about the goal realistically, if you don’t think you can achieve it, set a new one.
For example, the goal is to lose weight. If you can commit to setting aside time each week to exercise and are willing to change your menu daily, then losing 10 kg in 6 months is reasonable. Losing 30 kg is impossible if you can’t exercise every day.
You should put your limitations on paper when evaluating your goals. This helps complete the picture of the task you face.

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Assess the level of commitment. Even with a theoretically achievable goal, you must commit to work toward it. Ask yourself the following questions:

Are you willing to commit to achieving your goals?
Are you willing to make more or less adjustments to your life?
If not, is there a more achievable goal that you’re willing to work on?
Your goals and level of commitment should align. ^{[13] X Research Source} It’s easy to commit to losing 10 kg at the start, but 30 kg seems a bit overwhelming. Be honest with yourself about the change you’re willing to make

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Set achievable goals. After considering the challenge you face and the level of commitment, you can adjust your goals as needed.

If you decide your current goal is achievable, you can move on to the next step. But if you conclude that this is not a reasonable goal, adjust. It doesn’t mean that you give up, just that you adjust your goals to match reality.

Set Appropriate Goals (R)

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Reflect your own desires. Closely related to the feasibility of the goal. This is the “R” in SMART. The question here is whether you can accomplish the goal on your own. ^{[14] X Research Source}

It’s time to go back to the “why”. Ask yourself if this goal really meets your needs or is there another goal that is more important to you.
For example, you apply to college. You could potentially get a fitness certificate at a prestigious university. The goal is achievable. But if this isn’t what makes you happy, reframe your goals. Studying an English program at a general university may be more suitable for you.

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Consider other goals and circumstances. You need to consider whether that goal aligns with your other goals in life. Conflicts between plans can create problems. ^{[15] X Research Source}

In other words, it’s important to determine if that goal fits into your life.
For example, your goal is to get into a prestigious university. But you also want to take over the family business in the next two years. Especially if the family business is not close to that university, it will create conflict. You need to rethink both goals.

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Adjust your goals accordingly. If you decide the goal is appropriate and does not conflict with another plan, you can move on to the final step. If not, you need to make some adjustments.

When in doubt, follow your passion. A goal that you truly care about is both more relevant and achievable than a goal that you are simply interested in. The goal of fulfilling your dreams will be more motivating and meaningful to you. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Set a Time Limit (T) Goal

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Choose a time frame. That is, the goal should have a deadline or set time for completion.

Establishing a timeline for goals helps identify and stick to specific actions you need to take to achieve your goal. It removes the “some time in the future” ambiguity that is sometimes encouraging. ^{[17] X Research Source}
If you don’t set a timeline, you won’t have any pressure to accomplish your goals, so you’ll often feel depressed.

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Set the mark as the standard. Especially with long-term goals you should break down into many smaller goals. This makes it easier to calculate progress and control. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Go to source}

For example, if your goal is to lose 10 kg in 5 months, you might set a standard goal of losing half a pound per week. This goal sounds less daunting than the big one and creates more consistent motivation. You can download a diet and exercise control app to ensure that you follow the steps needed to reach your daily goals. If you feel overwhelmed, you can go back and adjust your goals accordingly.

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Focus on long-term and short-term goals. Goal-aligned progress means observing now and into the future. In the schedule you just created, you can ask yourself:

What can you do to achieve the target? If the goal is to lose 10 kg in 5 months, the daily goal can be 30 minutes of exercise. Or switch to healthy snacks of fruit and nuts instead of chips.
What can I do in the next 3 weeks? The answer may have to do with meal menus and exercise schedules.
What can I do over the long term to achieve my goal? Focus on weight loss. Focus on forming healthy eating habits and a long-term active lifestyle. You might consider going to the gym or joining a sports team.

Advice

List the milestones in the process of accomplishing the goal. You can reward yourself after completing a small goal. A little encouragement can also help keep you motivated. ^{[19] X Research Source}
Try making a list of the people and resources you need to achieve your goal. This helps you come up with the right strategy

Warning

Don’t set too many goals if you can’t prioritize them. You will feel like you have achieved nothing and are overwhelmed.

Steps