SMART Goals

Summary:  A big part of planning your schedule and to-do list should be goal setting. If you don’t know what your goals are in life, you cannot set priorities. If you can’t set your priorities, how do you know what you need to do? Having a plan can save lots of time because you focus on what’s important to you. Goals break down into Projects which bread down into "To-Dos".

Specific-describe the goal in specific terms so there is no confusion as to what needs to be accomplished. Give as much detail as you require.

Measurable-the goal should be in measurable terms. "Increase family time from 1 hour per day to 2 hour per day…" Or something that measures when the goal is completed. "Study until you can answer the questions for chapter 3 from memory…"

Attainable-make the goal something you can achieve. Don’t set it so high that you don’t believe in it, or will never reach it or have an excuse not to attain it.

Relevant-be sure the goal fits in with your beliefs, schedule, dreams, goals, etc. It should be relevant to getting you to where you want to go, not something frivolous or unnecessary.

Timely-give a date and/or time to the goal.  "…by the end of the day Wednesday."  Be sure the goal fits in with other goals in regards to its completion date/time.  Be realistic.

* SMART goals have been quoted so many times that there are several translations for the acronym, especially for the A and the R. All are good: Achievable, Attainable, Actionable, Reachable, Relevant, Realistic.

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Relevant

Timely

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