SMART Goals: How to create Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals
SMART goals are among the most efficient solutions for success in various personal and business activities. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Every framework component ensures that objectives and targets are well defined, thus increasing the chances of proper planning and implementation.

Specific
The first aspect of forming a SMART goal is specificity. It provides information on what you want to achieve, why it has to be done, who will do it, and where it will be done. It reduces confusion and gives direction on what should be done. For instance, instead of the vague statement, ‘I should exercise,’ a specific goal would be, ‘I should lose 10 pounds in three months through exercising at the gym thrice a week and eating healthy.’

Measurable
A measurable goal also has specific indicators to evaluate achievement and monitor progress. This aspect of SMART goals assists one in achieving their planned goals and objectives. Measurability of goals helps to assess what has been achieved and what is still left to be accomplished. For example, if you want to save money, set a number for how much you want to save, such as “I want to save $5,000 in the next six months; I want to.”

Achievable
When setting goals, it is thus essential to ensure they are within our reach in terms of capacity and available resources. On the one hand, it is necessary to stretch one’s abilities, but pursuing unattainable objectives results in frustration and diminished motivation. Evaluate your current status and identify what is possible at this stage. For instance, if your goal is to become a marathon runner but you are a beginner, set your goal to run a 5K race. Once you reach that level, you can set another higher goal.

Relevant
A relevant goal corresponds to a higher purpose consistent with your aims and principles. It should be relevant to you and fall within your strategic goals and objectives. One should ask oneself why the goal is appropriate to their life or career in the big picture. For instance, if one of your career objectives is to become a manager, then a specific goal may be to undertake a leadership course. This goal is relevant because it directly connects to essential aspects of your professional life.

Time-bound
Lastly, a SMART goal should be achievable within the specific time frame. A timeline enhances a feeling of time pressure and directs your attention to achieving the goal within a given period. For example, instead of, “I want to write a book,” be specific and say, “I want to have a first draft of my book written by December 31.”