Make Your Goals Mean Something

Setting goals doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you use these five words to guide your objective.

Whether you chose to make a New Years resolution or not, goal setting is an important exercise that keeps you on your toes, striving for a new level of excellence. Maybe you’re looking to improve your physical health? Perhaps you’d like to learn to sew or improve your breaststroke. Maybe you’d like to write each of your students a hand-written note before the end of the year to show them you care. Whatever your goal may be, it’s important to make sure your aspirations are “SMART!” While it’s typical to use SMART goals for students’ academic success, the method can also be used for personal growth. Use the words below to springboard you toward achieving your intentions.

Specific: Don’t choose something too broad! Instead, pinpoint a definitive thing on which you’d like to focus.

Measurable: It’s nice to think you’ll start eating healthier or exercising more, but wouldn’t a benchmark or checklist be helpful? Make your goal possible by defining steps to completing the task.

Attainable: Although you can shoot for the moon and land amongst the stars, the worst feeling is setting a goal that seems impossible. You might want to run a mile in under 10 minutes, but don’t think you’re going to outrun an Olympic athlete—we’re not discrediting the “practice makes perfect” mindset.

Relevant or Realistic: Make sure your goal ignites some sort of passion. Don’t set out to complete a task that you know doesn’t pertain to some aspect of your life.

Timely: Just as you do for your students, set a deadline! If you are one to blow of due dates, ask a friend, family member or colleague to hold you accountable.

We’d love to hear from you. Share your own tips for achieving goals by joining the conversation here.