How To Write A SMART Goal: Step-by-Step Guide
As the year progresses, you may find yourself on track to meet your goals—or struggling to stay consistent. Either way, that’s okay.
If you’ve ever struggled with goal-setting, you’re not alone. That’s why I want to share a proven method for success—SMART goals. In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a SMART goal step by step, so you can create clear, achievable goals that keep you motivated.
Studies show that writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them. A study by Dominican University of California explains why.
So, grab a pen and paper and let's dive in.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART goals provide a structured way to set and achieve objectives by ensuring they are clear, trackable, and meaningful. The acronym stands for:
Specific – Clearly defining what you want to achieve.
Measurable – Establishing a way to track progress.
Achievable – Ensuring the goal is realistic.
Relevant – Aligning with your personal or professional priorities.
Time-bound – Setting a deadline to create accountability.
Using this method helps remove ambiguity and increases your chances of success. Let’s go through each step.
How to Write a SMART Goal (Step-by-Step)
How to Set Specific Goals That Drive Action
When learning how to write a SMART goal, the first step is to make it specific. Not only does it become more clear what you will need to achieve, but setting specific goals allows you to break your goals down into smaller steps—making them more accessible to achieve (notice I didn't say easier).
Some questions to ask yourself:
What do I want to accomplish?
Why do I want to accomplish this?
Who else needs to be included?
When do I want to do this?
What's required to do so?
What are the constraints?
How to Measure Progress and Track Your Goals
When setting goals, it’s helpful to know how much you have accomplished so far. If there’s no way to measure it, you will just be working hard in every direction. So, it’s best to determine how you will do so. Hint: It’s usually a number.
Some questions to ask yourself:
How will I measure my progress?
How will I know if I've successfully met my goal?
How to Set Achievable Goals Without Feeling Overwhelmed
When you set goals that you can achieve, you are more likely to accomplish them, and then set and meet more of your goals in the future. This is especially true when you outline a reward for yourself once complete. If it's too difficult (you may become discouraged and quit) or easy of a goal (there might not be enough to keep you going).
Some questions to ask yourself:
Do I have the skills required to achieve the goal?
If not, can I obtain them?
What is my motivation for this goal?
What are the next logical steps that I should take?
Is the amount of effort required on par with what the goal will achieve?
How to Set Meaningful Goals That Align With Your Values
You want to set goals that are relevant to your own personal values or professional pursuits. If you do this, you will understand your next steps, how to set a schedule, and why it matters to you. If it does not matter to you, then you're just going to let it slide on the second day. When you know what you'll get out of it, that'll be enough of a driving force to keep you going.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Why am I setting this goal now?
Is it aligned with my overall objectives?
Do I have the necessary resources to accomplish this goal?
How to Create Deadlines That Keep You Accountable
It's often best to set a goal and work backwards. Though, you can only really do this when you know the deadline. So, set a time-bound deadline for your goal first. Then, mark how you'll create measurable steps that are achievable and measurable to meet your specific SMART Goal (see what I did there).
Some questions to ask yourself:
How long will it take me to accomplish this goal?
When is the deadline?
When am I going to work on this goal?
What’s Your SMART Goal?
Now that you understand how to write a SMART goal, it’s time to put it into action! Think about a goal you want to achieve and apply this framework.Need help refining it? I’d love to hear from you!
Share your goal with me—whether by email, voice message, or in the comments.
Enjoy,
Matt Cici
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