In today’s fast-paced and often stressful world, it can be challenging to find the time and motivation to achieve our personal goals. Thankfully, by creating SMART Goals, we can optimize our potential and make measurable strides towards a more fulfilling future.
Keeping track of personal goals is not easy. Unless you write them down somewhere visible, they tend to slip your mind.
And that’s why so many of us fail in achieving them. Keeping track of your intentions is an important part of the process, with S – Specific; M – Measurable; A – Attainable; R – Relevant; and T – Time-bound being the acronym used to remember these principles.
When designing your personal goals, it is essential that you make them specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound so that you will have better chances of completing them successfully.
Let’s dive into what each of these letters stand for and how you can make your own personal goals using this framework.
LSMV is a management framework that has gained immense popularity in the modern corporate world as it enables managers to take measured, data-driven decisions.
Apart from enabling better decision making, it also helps employees maintain their work-life balance. However, amidst all these benefits of LSMV, almost everyone gets overwhelmed with the numerous acronyms and terminologies used.
Recall that you need to identify your top three ambitions from the OODA loop and translate them into measurable objectives? We get you. It’s not easy to transition personal goals into measurable objectives.
In this article, you will find 20 personal SMART goal examples that can act as your guide when you’re creating new objectives.
1. Build Confidence and Self-Esteem
Achieving financial security is a must for most people, but it’s not the only reason to set goals. If you want to improve your self-esteem, set a goal that has nothing to do with your finances, such as “I will try out for the school play.”
This goal might seem like a silly thing to set, but it can go a long way in boosting your self-esteem. The key here is to set goals that boost your self-esteem, not your bank account. Some goals, like “I will get straight A’s this semester,” might be better, depending on what you want to accomplish.
2. Travel the World
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, then it might be time to start saving for your next big trip. But you might be wondering: Where do I start? One way is to set travel-related goals, such as booking a flight to visit a friend or family member.
You can also set a goal to visit a certain location, like a city or country. You can learn about different destinations from travel blogs and magazines or from friends who’ve been to them before.
3. Learn a Language
If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, then now is the perfect time to do it. It can be difficult to find the time to fit in a new skill or hobby, which is why setting a goal and creating a plan for how you will go about learning is a great way to stay motivated.
Some ways you can set goals to learn a new language include finding an online course to follow or finding a language club in your area. Another great way to set goals to learn a language is to make flashcards and use apps such as Memrise to help you learn new words.
4. Lose Weight and Get Fit
Weight loss and fitness goals are a great example of how you can set both short- and long-term goals to help you reach your final goal. Some short-term goals you might set to get yourself on the path to fitness include eating better, exercising regularly, and finding a support system, such as a coach or group of friends who want to lose weight as well.
Long-term goals are meant to help you chart a course for how you want to live your life. When setting long-term goals for your health and wellness, such as losing 30 pounds, it’s important to consider your body type, eating habits, and lifestyle.
5. Improve your Writing Skills
Some people are gifted writers, but this isn’t the case for everyone. Writing can be a challenge for some people. The good news is that it’s something you can improve on with practice. The best way to improve your writing skills is to set goals. One goal you could set is to write every day.
This will help you develop a routine that will help you improve over time. You could also set a goal to read a certain number of books each month that pertain to writing. Another goal you could set is to apply to writing competitions to help you get your foot in the door and help you to improve every day because you will have something to write about.
6. Develop Networking Skills
Networking skills can help you get a job, find a new job, and earn more money in your current job. But you don’t just magically become good at networking. You have to work at it. Set goals for networking that will help you build the skills you need.
Some goals you could set include joining a networking group, scheduling time each week to network, and reading books about networking. As you set goals for networking, you’ll soon find yourself making connections that will help you in your career and your daily life.
7. Commit to a Hobby You Love and Enjoy
Some people are lucky enough to have hobbies that they love, but for others, it’s something that may have fallen by the wayside as they’ve grown up. There are many benefits to having a hobby, and it could be a great way to meet new people and set yourself on a path to a new career.
When setting goals for a hobby you’ve neglected, you might want to start small. For example, if you want to pick up a musical instrument, you might want to set a goal to practice for 10 minutes a day.
8. Test Yourself and Grow as a Person
If you’ve ever gone on vacation and come home feeling like you’ve accomplished something, then you know the sense of pride and confidence that comes from taking on a new challenge.
You can set goals that will challenge you, both mentally and physically. Some goals you could set that will test your abilities and help you grow as a person include learning a new language, learning how to play an instrument, or taking a martial arts class.
You could also set goals that challenge you mentally, such as reading a new book each month or setting aside time to work on a project that interests you.
9. Become an expert in Excel
If you work in an office environment and you use Excel regularly, then it’s a good idea to set goals to become an expert in Excel. Some goals you might set to become an expert in Excel include learning a new function or macro each month, reading a book on Excel, and taking an online course on the subject. Becoming an expert in Excel can help you save time at work and impress your boss.
10. Build relationships with family and friends
Family and friends are two of the most important relationships in your life. It’s important to set goals that will help you build stronger relationships with these people.
Some goals you can set that will help to build stronger relationships with your family and friends include making a point to speak with your relatives on a regular basis, setting up regular date nights with your significant other, and making plans to do things with your friends regularly.
By setting goals that help you build stronger relationships with your family and friends, you’ll be setting yourself up for a happier and healthier life.
11. Health-related SMART goal
When it comes to health, your goal could be losing weight or even gaining muscle mass. Whatever your goal is, make sure it is SMART. For example, your health-related goal could be losing 10% of your body weight in 6 months. This can be made more specific by adding the time frame and the percentage of weight loss.
The percentage of weight loss is a measurable metric that can be used to evaluate your progress. It can be used to compare your results after 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. The time frame of 6 months is an objective goal that you can use to create a realistic plan.
Your plan could include exercising 3-4 times a week and dieting 5 days a week. This way, you could meet your goal of losing 10% of your body weight in 6 months.
12. Wealth accumulation SMART goal
When it comes to accumulating wealth, your goal could be saving $1 million in the next 10 years. This is a long-term goal that may require you to make certain sacrifices during the short-term.
Your short-term sacrifices could be a reduction in the frequency of vacations or missing out on certain luxuries that you may cherish. These sacrifices enable you to save a significant amount of money in the long run.
Your goal could be saving $1000 a month for 10 months. Your plan could include finding ways to cut down on your monthly expenses and investing the rest of your income. You can also explore various investment opportunities to find the most suitable option for yourself.
13. Employment opportunity SMART goal
When it comes to employment opportunity, your goal could be finding a high-paying job that enables you to make a difference in the world. Finding a high-paying job could be challenging, which is why you must be prepared to make sacrifices while finding your dream job.
Your goal could be applying to 10 jobs every month. This is a measurable metric that can help you track your progress. You can apply for jobs that you are qualified for. Your goal could be applying to a specific type of job.
For example, your goal could be applying to jobs in the medical field. Your plan could include preparing for the job interview, attending job fairs, and connecting with recruiters to find the best job opportunities for yourself.
14. A smart goal for your career
When it comes to your career, your goal could be achieving a senior position at a Fortune 500 company. Your goal could be improving your performance at work. You could also have a goal of improving your work-life balance. Your goals could be translating your passions into actionable objectives.
For example, your goal could be creating a mobile app that is driven by your passion for music. Your goal could be taking on a certain project at work that enables you to utilize your strengths to the fullest.
Your goal could be taking the best possible decisions when it comes to promotions, transfers, and other career-related decisions. Your goal could be becoming the member of a specific association or society. This goal could help you make useful connections, and you could even get a chance to collaborate with other members.
15. A smart goal for your financial well-being
When it comes to your financial well-being, your goal could be saving $5000 in 1 year. Your goal could be investing $1000 per month for 5 years. Your goal could be investing a significant amount of money in a single stock that could make you a fortune. Your goal could be creating a financial plan that enables you to make wise investments and save a significant amount of money.
Your goal could be following the advice of investment experts. You could also have a goal of educating yourself about the stock market. Your goal could be maintaining a healthy credit score.
It could be a wise idea to create a written financial plan to help you in achieving your financial goals. Your goal could be paying off your loans in the least possible time. You could even have a goal of paying off your loans with no monthly payments.
16. A smart goal for your physical well-being
When it comes to physical well-being, your goal could be exercising for 2 hours each week. It could also be following a healthy diet for 2 months. Your goal could be losing 10 pounds in 1 month. It could be losing 20 pounds in 6 months. You could also have a goal of gaining 10 pounds to be in a healthy BMI range.
Your goal could be increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat. It could also be increasing the amount of water you drink. Your goal could be meditating for 10 minutes a day. It could be reading 10 pages of a book every day. Your goal could be following a sleep schedule that enables you to sleep well and feel fresh every day.
17. A smart goal for your relationships
When it comes to relationships, your goal could be finding your life partner. It could be strengthening your relationship with your family members and friends. Your goal could be finding someone who can spend the rest of your life with you.
It could be finding your best friend who has the potential to become your life partner. Your goal could be spending quality time with your family members. It could be visiting your extended family members.
Your goal could be going out on a vacation with your family members. It could be visiting a place that you have never been to before. Your goal could be strengthening your relationship with your friends by spending more time with them.
It could be going on a vacation with them. Your goal could be getting along with your neighbors. It could be solving the misunderstandings that exist between you and your neighbors.
18. A smart goal for your happiness
When it comes to happiness, your goal could be becoming a better version of yourself. It could be making your family members proud of you. Your goal could be achieving greater heights in your career.
It could be doing something that makes you passionate. Your goal could be creating a positive impact on the world. It could be discovering your strengths. Your goal could be being financially independent.
Your goal could be following your passion and making others happy. It could be helping people in need. Your goal could be having a fulfilling life. It could be living in accordance with your values and beliefs.
19. Celebrate your successes
When you achieve certain goals, it is important to celebrate those accomplishments. You could even have a goal of celebrating your successes. When you celebrate your achievements, it is not only helpful for boosting your morale, it is also a great way of reinforcing your commitment to achieving your goals.
Your goal could be celebrating your successes more often than you do right now. You could also have a goal of finding new ways of celebrating each of your victories.
20. Be more effective at work
When it comes to being more effective at work, your goal could be finding a new job. Your goal could be climbing the corporate ladder. Your goal could be finding the right path for your career and capitalizing on your strengths. Your goal could be finding ways to improve your performance at work.
Your goal could be gaining the respect of your superiors and colleagues. It could be staying focused when you are surrounded by distractions. Your goal could be working efficiently with minimal supervision.
It could also be being productive during your hectic workdays. Your goal could be maximizing your strengths and minimizing your weaknesses.
How to create SMART goals
As you can see from the above examples, creating SMART goals is not an easy task. However, following these steps can make your life easier.
- Identify your ambitions – First and foremost, you need to identify what your ambitions are. Make sure that they are not too broad.
- Convert your ambitions into objectives – Once you have identified your ambitions, you have to convert them into a set of objectives. Using these examples as a guide, you can translate your ambitions into measurable goals.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that setting goals is a great way to stay motivated and achieve the things you want in life. But in order for your goals to have the desired effect, they need to be SMART.
This means they need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. With the help of these 20 personal SMART goal examples, you’ll be able to create goals that are sure to improve your life.
