Smart Goals

If you or your children cannot achieve your goals, there is a chance that you are not creating the correct goals. Whenever you create goals, you will find that following the rules for SMART goals will be easier to achieve. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. When you combine the elements of SMART goals, you have a greater chance of success.

Specific

Goals need to be specific. You will not be able to reach you goals if they are broad and general, because planning will be too difficult. For example, “Improve my life” is too broad. You cannot work towards this general goal. Specific goals explain what is necessary to complete a goal and guides you as you try to reach the goal. Specific goals may also identify location, requirements, and the reasoning behind the goal.

Example:

  • General goal: Make more money / Get better score on test
  • Specific goal: Earn a promotion with a pay increase. / Achieve at least a B on the upcoming test

Measurable

Goals need to be measurable in order to be effective. A measurable goal specifies the when a goal is accomplished by answering, “how much?” or “how many?” It provides measurable results. Without measurable goals, it is difficult to realize when the goal has been reached.

Example:

  • General goal: Work on a book. / Study for ACT
  • Measurable goal: Write 10 pages a day of a book / Complete 1 section from ACT practice book every day.

 Attainable

Goals must always be attainable. It is important that you create goals that are challenging, but they still need to be within reach. When goals are unattainable, you will give up on them without even trying. The measure of a goal should always be realistic and attainable.

  • Unattainable goal: Earn $1 million in the next three months.
  • Attainable goal: Earn a $2 an hour raise with my next review.

Realistic

It is important that you set realistic goals. Realistic goals are directly related to your abilities. For example, a goal to reprogram the computer is not realistic if you do not have the education or experience to accomplish the task. Additionally, you need to make sure that you have access to the tools necessary to meet your goals. If a goal seems unrealistic, break it down into smaller chunks to know for certain.

Example:

  • Unrealistic Goal: Run a marathon. (without training)
  • Realistic Goal: Complete a marathon after training for a year.

 Timely

Always create goals that have specific time frames. General goals do not establish any time frames, which means that you may continue to pursue goals that you should relinquish. Timely goals encourage you to move forward in order to meet the deadline you have established. Once a time frame has been reached, you should take the time to reevaluate if that goal is achievable.

Example:

  • General goal: Complete a computer training course.
  • Timely goal: Complete a computer training course within the next 3 months.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, in Boca Raton, FL.