Updated September 4, 2022 . AmFam Team
When it comes to long-term goal setting, there’s no one right way to reach your goal. Every goal is a unique and personal journey, and your approach will certainly vary. But having a process to plan your goals, track progress and see them through to completion is an important step towards success.
Best practices for goal setting allow you to break your goals into smaller, actionable steps. So, where should you begin? The SMART goal technique is a great starting point!
By using a goal-setting system like SMART, you can better understand your goals and objectives and what it will take to achieve them. The SMART goal methodology is a tried-and-true standard for setting big (but achievable) goals that can help make your dreams a reality.
Watch this short video on SMART goals. Then, keep reading to learn how to make your own SMART goals and see a few examples to get you started!
We’ve covered what SMART goals are and how to write them, but if you still have questions, you’re not alone. These examples can help you better understand how to set SMART goals that can help you realize your dreams:
When you use the SMART criteria to set your goals, it's important to remember a few additional things.
Before you do anything, think about all the great things you’ve already done. Your list of achievements is probably longer than you think! And you deserve some self-kudos for that.
Next step: Keep trying. Remember, it’s okay if you don’t get it 100% right the first few times. Use what you’ve learned and keep going — you can’t fail if you keep trying.
Small wins are huge motivators. Go ahead and treat yourself every time you reach another goal or milestone along the way. High fives, fist bumps, parties, chocolate — celebrate in a way that inspires you. Just make sure to take time to acknowledge your milestones.
Remember, nobody expects you to do it all on your own. Build up a good support team to keep you focused and pushing through challenges. And don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend when you run into roadblocks. Even the most successful people need help sometimes!
Want more tips and motivation? Our collection of self-improvement tools and resources can help support and guide you and your family along any dream pursuit.