Goal setting is a great practice that can turn your dreams into reality. That sounds almost poetic, like anything can be achieved if we write it down, right? Well… life is not that simple. Goal setting is just one of those tools that can help us in our journey to success (whatever success means to each of us).

What’s Goal setting? It’s setting clear and specific goals in which we can direct your focus. Moreover, setting goals (and accomplishing them) help us gain and keep momentum, and measure our progress. It’s a way of taking control of our life’s direction and achieving what we set out to do.

The Art of Setting Goals

The process of setting goals starts with careful consideration of what we want to achieve, and ends with a lot of hard work to actually accomplish it. The first step you need to take is to clearly define your goals. Vague or generalized goals are not helpful because they don’t provide a clear direction (Read more is not the same as read one book this month). Remember, you need goals to show you the way. Make it as easy as you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you want to end up.

Secondly, your goals should be realistic and achievable. It’s important to set goals that you can attain. People around us (employers, parents, SO, media, or society) can set unrealistic goals they want us to achieve. They will often do this while ignoring your own desires and ambitions.

Also, you may set goals for yourself that are too high. That’s something that I’m guilty of. I remember that at the end of 2022 I wrote as a goal that I was going to Argentina in 2023 to visit my brother and his family. It doesn’s sound that unattainable, but it was. I didn’t consider many things, such as the hefty cost, the time needed to save, the fact that I don’t have my passport and it costs $200 to obtain it, among others. I got extremely sad when I realized that I wasn’t going to travel, nor to Argentina, nor anywhere in the near future. This might happen to you as well if you miss to consider the obstacles in the way, the steps you need to take, or understand how much you need to develop a skill to achieve your goals.

Lastly, your goals should align with your values and long-term objectives. If a goal doesn’t contribute toward your broader objectives, you might struggle to see its relevance. If you’re lacking in motivation to work toward a particular goal, it may be worth reassessing whether it aligns with your core values.

SMART Goals: A Key to Success

SMART is an acronym that stands for:

• Specific: Your goal should be clear and specific, otherwise you won’t be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it. It’s like the example I shared before, it’s not the same to say, “oh, I want to read more books” to say, “I am going to read at least 5 pages when I have a day off.”
• Measurable: It’s important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Many people want to exercise more, but you can turn that into something you can measure, such as “I’m going to walk 10 minutes every day” and then measure how many minutes you have walked per day and even what’s the percentage of days per month that you were able to accomplish your goal.
• Achievable: Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. In other words, it should stretch your abilities but still remain possible. We cannot set the goal to climb Mt. Everest this year if we don’t have proper training and experience.
• Relevant: This step is about ensuring that your goal matters to you, and that it also aligns with other relevant goals. Maybe you want to lose weight because you keep feeling pressured by others to do it. That might not be the best reason to set that goal. You could take a quiet moment to think what reasons and values support the goal. For example, maybe you want to live longer and see your child grow, or you want to get healthier so you can go trekking to a beautiful location you have in mind.
• Time-bound: Every goal needs a target date, so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. You might want to set the day, the hour, and the place. I am cycling every Sunday, so my goal is similar to, “I’m going to ride at least 5 miles every Sunday and start at 8:30 am”. You can read a bit more about my 2024 goals here.

SMART is an effective tool that provides the clarity, focus and motivation you need to achieve your goals. It can also improve your ability to reach them by encouraging you to define your objectives and set a completion date. SMART goals are also easy to use by anyone, anywhere, without the need for specialist tools or training.

You might need to keep in mind that sometimes what we think is just one task, can subdivide in multiple ones. Keeping the house clean can easily be subdivided into do the laundry, fold the clothes, swipe the counter of the kitchen, and mop the floor of XYZ room (multiplied by the number of rooms), among others.

Examples of SMART Goals

Here are some more examples of SMART goals:

1. Personal Development: Read 10 books in a year. This goal is specific (read 10 books), measurable (number of books read), achievable (less than one book per month), relevant (contributes to your personal knowledge and interests), and time-bound (to be achieved within a year).
2. Career: Gain a promotion to XYZ position within two years. This goal is specific (gain a promotion), measurable (there’s a specific position), achievable (with hard work and dedication, as long as your self-expectations are realistic to your current situation), relevant (advancement in career), and time-bound (to be achieved within two years).
3. Health: Run a 2 miles marathon in six months. This goal is specific (run a 2 miles marathon), measurable (completing that marathon), achievable (with regular training), relevant (improves your physical health), and time-bound (to be achieved in six months).

Accountability: The Key to Staying Committed

Accountability is a powerful tool for achieving goals. When someone knows that you are watching them to see if they succeed, they will be more motivated to succeed (In my case in particular, I might get nervous and make a mistake, but that’s only while I get used to be observed). Here are some strategies to maintain accountability:

• Find an Accountability Partner: This could be a friend, family member, or mentor who can provide constructive feedback and encouragement.
• Declare Your Goals Publicly: By declaring your goals publicly, whether to friends, family, or on social media, you create a community around your goals that can provide support, encouragement, and celebration. Just make sure that you are sharing your goals with supportive people and get used to disregarding the opinions and hurtful comments of those who will not support you (This was difficult for me as well).
• Track Your Progress Regularly: Regularly reviewing your progress can help you stay focused and motivated. It can also help you to see if you need to make any adjustments to your goals or plans.

Conclusion

Setting SMART goals and keeping yourself accountable are key to achieving what you want in life. It’s a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. So, start setting your own SMART goals today and see the difference it makes!

PS: If you want to keep on working on your self-development, make sure to read these 7 tips for Time management. Also, you can check a great video about Goal settings here.

About the Author:
I’m Astrid, a biologist who made a career shift to become a virtual assistant and an accountability partner. My journey from the world of science to customer service and freelancing has given me a unique perspective on life, and I sometimes share it here on WordPress.

Do you need a capable and reliable accountability partner? Contact me on Fiverr or LinkedIn.