Making SMART Goals

Goals are probably the easiest thing to make, but also the easiest thing to break--Unless you're doing your part, and making them SMART!

As a 4th year student who is taking 5 courses, works on campus, volunteers within the community, and enjoys hanging out with friends, getting through my weekly tasks was always a challenge; until I made SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely and here is how your goals, can be SMART.

Specific- Your goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to have happen; what are you going to do? How are you going to do it? Why are going to do it? What is its importance?

Measurable- Choose a goal with a measure progress this way you can watch the change occur.

Attainable- The goal should stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it while staying committed to it. Goals which are too far out of your reach you probably won't commit to it.

Realistic- This means the goal should be 'do-able'; it may push your skills and knowledge as you work on your goal, but it shouldn't break you; set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement

Timely- Set a time frame for the goal- 1 week, 2 months etc; this will give you a clear target to work towards; without a time limit there is no urgency to start taking action now. Don't forget: the time you set must also be measurable, attainable and realistic!

I wish you all the best as you set and achieve your goals. Remember: Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!

-Hillary