How often do you sit down and write out your goals? Do you ever set a general goal for yourself that never gets completed? One of the hardest things for me to do when I was a freshman was setting specific goals. I was really good at planning for the short term, but when it came to making specific goals, I would lump the requirements of the goal into one general goal.

In this article I want to address a method for setting goals that has helped me concentrate and remember more effectively, perform better and achieve more, and be happier and more satisfied in college.

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Why Set Goals?

Goal setters achieve outstanding results because they have learned how to focus and concentrate their time, energy, and resources on a single objective. Their concentrated power can produce results that are much greater than those achievable though the diffused and unfocused energy many people use to get through their day.

In my experience, setting SMART goals instead of general ones will produce better results with less stress.

What are SMART goals?

SMART stands for the five components of a goal: Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, and Time-Bound.

The act of thinking carefully about what you want to achieve and determining a clear course of action will give you a better understanding of what your goals are and how you can achieve them.

SPECIFIC. Do you need to finish a particular assignment? Can you break a larger task down into smaller items? Specific goals are goals that state exactly what you want to achieve.

MEASURABLE. How many pages? Questions? Laps? Establish clear definitions to help you know if you’re reaching (or have reached) your goal. If you’re confused about how to measure your goal, you’ll be less likely to achieve it.

ACTION-ORIENTED. How many verbs are associated with the task: reading, typing, writing, making? This is the how part of goal setting. Describe your goals using action verbs, and outline the exact steps you will take to accomplish your goal.

REALISTIC. Can you do this in the time given? Give yourself the opportunity to succeed by setting goals you’ll be able to accomplish. Strive to reach a good middle-ground: goals set too high could discourage you, but goals set too low will fail to challenge and motivate you.

TIME-BOUND. When will you know that you’re finished? Decide exactly when you’ll start and finish your goal. Knowing exactly how long you have to reach your goal is an excellent way to stay motivated and focused.

My Experience

This technique works on both short and long term goals. Below I’ll compare a general goal to a SMART goal.

General Goal: Make an ‘A’ on my Management Test.

SMART Goal:
S- I will read and understand the material from chapters one through four.
M- I will answer all of the study questions on the review.
A- I will Preview, Read, and Recall every chapter while making flashcards.
R- I will focus on this assignment for 2 hours every day, until test time.
T- I’ll finish this assignment by 10pm everyday so that I get an adequate amount of sleep each night.

Goal Setting Tips

• Figure out an organizational system for setting and keeping track of your goals. For me, this meant updating my to-do list and calendar with each new goal.
• Set hierarchies. Be sure to express your goals in order of importance, with the most important goal first on the list. Try arranging by must do, shoulddo, and could do.
• Avoid using the word try when you set your goals. Be positive! And believe you can succeed without hedging your bets from the start.
• Write your goals on paper, on your phone, or create a computer document for them. The process of choosing words to express your goals allows you to personalize them and commit yourself to them. It will also help you to stay on top of them.
• Post your goals somewhere you’ll see them several times each day.

Have you tried setting SMART goals before? Let me know in the comments below.