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When it comes to long-term goal setting, there’s no one right way to reach your goal. Every goal is a unique and personal journey, and your approach will certainly vary. But having a process to plan your goals, track progress and see them through to completion is an important step towards success.
What are the best practices for goal setting?
Best practices for goal setting allow you to break your goals into smaller, actionable steps. So, where should you begin? The SMART goal technique is a great starting point!
By using a goal-setting system like SMART, you can better understand your goals and objectives and what it will take to achieve them. The SMART goal methodology is a tried-and-true standard for setting big (but achievable) goals that can help make your dreams a reality.
Watch this short video on SMART goals. Then, keep reading to learn how to make your own SMART goals and see a few examples to get you started!
VO: Ready to achieve your dreams? Try using SMART goals with these helpful tips from American Family Insurance!
VO: Setting goals can sound daunting, but when you use SMART Goal setting, you can easily plan out how to make your dream a reality.
VO: SMART means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Sensitive, and can be applied to small or big life goals.
VO: Let’s say you want to update your bedroom’s look.
VO: The first step is to be Specific. The more specific your goal is, the more likely you are to get it done.
VO: Instead of “I want to update my bedroom.” be specific and say “I want to paint my two nightstands blue.” Now you know exactly what you need to do.
VO: Next, your goal should be measurable.
VO: Break down your goal into smaller tasks and take on one task at a time. It’s a great way to stay on track.
VO: To refinish your nightstands, you'll want to sand, prime, and apply a first and second coat of paint, one step at a time.
VO: By breaking big tasks down into smaller ones, you’ll achieve your big goals in no time!
VO: Then, make sure your goals are Achievable.
VO: You want to be sure your goals are realistic. For example, do you have the tools, time and resources you need to achieve your goals?
VO: Let’s say refinishing your nightstands will cost $200 in supplies. Make sure that’s realistic for your budget before you start working on your goal.
VO: Your goal should also be Relevant to you. Ask yourself, “Does this goal help me get closer to my dream?”
VO: If your dream is to update your bedroom, then refinishing those nightstands is a relevant goal! In contrast, working on your kitchen herb garden or taking up other projects might not be so relevant to your dream of a more relaxing bedroom.
VO: And lastly, you’ll want your goal to be Time-Sensitive.
VO: Deadlines can be stressful, but if you plan small deadlines in advance instead of one big deadline, you’ll see they’re not that scary.
VO: For example, you can plan on priming your nightstands one day and painting them blue on another day. When you assign each task to a certain day or timeframe, your final due date will become clearer.
VO: And that’s it! Remember, no matter what your goals are, you can use SMART Goal setting to clarify your purpose, focus your efforts and get it done!
VO: American Family Insurance is here to support you and your dreams. Learn more about how we can help inspire, protect and restore your dreams at AmFam.com.
SMART goal examples
We’ve covered what SMART goals are and how to write them, but if you still have questions, you’re not alone. These examples can help you better understand how to set SMART goals that can help you realize your dreams:
SMART goal example 1: Find a new job.
- Specific: I'm going to pursue my dream of [insert job title].
- Measurable: I will submit one resume every week.
- Achievable: I will apply for positions with a higher salary that also align with my long-term career goals.
- Relevant: I’m working toward saving for a house. A new job with a higher salary will help me save for a down payment faster while working toward my career goals.
- Time-sensitive: I’ll start applying for jobs [insert specific start date], with the goal of landing my dream job by [insert specific end date].
SMART goal example 2: Become an entrepreneur.
- Specific: I'm going to start a [insert type] business.
- Measurable: I will work on launching my business for one hour every day, with a goal to make my first sale within four weeks.
- Achievable: I will choose an online storefront platform that is easy to use and that will allow me to launch my business quickly.
- Relevant: I want to have more flexibility in my work life, be my own boss and have more control over what I earn.
- Time-sensitive: I will begin on [insert specific start date] and make my first sale within four weeks.
Things to consider when setting SMART goals
When you use the SMART criteria to set your goals, it's important to remember a few additional things.
Acknowledge your awesomeness
Before you do anything, think about all the great things you’ve already done. Your list of achievements is probably longer than you think! And you deserve some self-kudos for that.
Try and try again
Next step: Keep trying. Remember, it’s okay if you don’t get it 100% right the first few times. Use what you’ve learned and keep going — you can’t fail if you keep trying.
Celebrate small victories
Small wins are huge motivators. Go ahead and treat yourself every time you reach another goal or milestone along the way. High fives, fist bumps, parties, chocolate — celebrate in a way that inspires you. Just make sure to take time to acknowledge your milestones.
Seek support
Remember, nobody expects you to do it all on your own. Build up a good support team to keep you focused and pushing through challenges. And don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend when you run into roadblocks. Even the most successful people need help sometimes!
Want more tips and motivation? Our collection of self-improvement tools and resources can help support and guide you and your family along any dream pursuit.
This article is for informational purposes only and based on information that is widely available. We do not make any guarantees or promise any results based on this information.
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