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Not sure how to write smart goals you can actually accomplish? This free smart goal setting worksheet collection takes all the guesswork out of creating goals so you can stop dreaming and start achieving!
I can feel my heart beat a little faster with every number I yell.
“FIVE!” This year will be different.
“FOUR!” This time I’m prepared.
“THREE!” I know I can do this.
“TWO!” It’s almost here!
“ONE!” I don’t want to fail again.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR!!” I hope this goal makes it to February.
Setting goals is not for the faint of heart. It’s really the ultimate act of optimism, the belief that things can be different and better, but having a goal is just the beginning.
The truth is most goals don’t live to see February because most people aren’t setting goals the right way.
Too often, people confuse their dreams with goals. They think saying something like, “I want to lose weight” or “I want to make more money” is the first step on the path to changing their lives, but a true goal, something that can actually be achieved, needs to be smart first.
What is a SMART goal?
A SMART goal is a goal that’s crafted with special attention paid to make sure it satisfies five distinct criteria. It must be: Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
A general statement like, “I want a clean and organized home” is a great thing to work towards, but it leaves too many variables open to interpretation. For example:
- Just what do “clean” and “organized” mean here?
- Are we talking only about the public areas of the home or every single space down to the closet under the basement stairs?
- Can this really be done? What steps would need to be taken to complete this job?
A smart goal, on the other hand, provides us with a plan of action and clear guidelines so little is left up to interpretation or chance. If you want to learn how to write smart goals, it’s really pretty easy!
How to Write Smart Goals
Imagine jumping in your car with your favorite road trip snacks on the passenger seat and a playlist that’ll keep you awake and entertained for hours. Your music’s already got you dancing in your seat, and you throw on your favorite pair of sunglasses, ready to drive into the beautiful blue sky day.
You pull out of your driveway, make a few turns, start to feel lost, confused, and ultimately end up right back where you started. You’re frustrated and don’t understand why you aren’t getting anywhere, but you never had a specific destination in mind in the first place.
If you don’t know where you want to go, you’ll never get there.
This is how we usually treat our goals. We want to achieve something, make progress, evolve, but we don’t focus on enough specifics to really make any progress.
Imagine how different the road trip experience would be with some specifics and planning.
“Okay, we’re heading to grandma’s house in the morning. She lives four and a half hours away so we’ll be leaving at 10am. We’ll drive South on I75 for two and a half hours, have a nice lunch in that little restaurant in Cincinnati, and be back on the road by 2 at the latest and grandma’s by 4.”
That is a plan of action! Now we know where we’re going and how we’re going to get there.
Ultimately, the foundation of any goal is knowing where you want to go and what you’re working towards. To figure out the specifics of your goal, try asking yourself questions like who, what, where, when, and why.
Making Goals Measureable
The next step to creating a smart goal is knowing how to recognize your destination. How will you know when your goal is accomplished?
Depending on how you phrase things, some goals could go on forever. Cleaning and organizing, for example, are on-going tasks that are never really finished… especially if you have children. Furthermore, one person’s definition of a clean home may vary wildly from another’s so how can well tell when this goal is achieved?
Instead, saying something like, “I will only keep four plates, cups, and bowls in my kitchen cabinet” is specific and measurable enough that anyone can see if this goal is achieved.
Determining Achievable Action Steps
Working towards a big goal is great… until it feels unachievable. Nothing kills motivation and progress more than feeling like no matter how hard you work, you’ll never reach what you’re working for.
The key to successfully achieving your goals is to break those big, overwhelming dreams into achievable, bite-sized pieces.
How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time.
Breaking your big goals into small, doable steps helps us maintain momentum because we’re constantly experiencing little wins on our way to the big prize.
I like to think about goal setting like running a marathon. Racers don’t just magically or instantly appear at the finish line. They’re only able to complete their 26.2 mile journey by putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step at a time. We’ll accomplish our goals the same way.
Is your goal realistic?
Some of the best goals may seem completely unrealistic.
“I want to make a million dollars!” may feel like a huge, ridiculously unachievable goal to someone who can’t even cover their monthly bills, but when that goal is broken down into small, realistic steps, suddenly the impossible becomes possible.
When the action steps we are grounded in reality, goals that initially sound outlandish can be achieved.
For example, someone who wants to have a million dollars may:
- Find a way to reduce their monthly expenses and stop spending money on frivolous things
- Brainstorm ways to make more money: sell things, take on extra jobs, start their own business, etc.
- Learn how to invest for growth
Once the figure out where they want to go, they can determine the steps to get there.
It’s important to note that we may not always know the exact steps to get to where we want to go, but we don’t have to know the entire plan from the get-go. What we can usually figure out, however, is the next step. Focusing on one step at a time is all we have to do to create our path.
Give Your Goal a Deadline
Have you ever had a chore you just kept putting off? Maybe it’s a pile of laundry on the couch you just don’t feel like folding or a pile of clutter sitting by your front door you’ve been meaning to take to a donation center.
It sits there for days… or weeks… until your partner come home and says, “I invited friends over to play games tonight!” Suddenly, you start running around the house frantically taking care of everything because you had an urgent reason to do so.
This is the power of a deadline.
I am a world-class procrastinator. It’s not my best quality, but sometimes I need an urgent deadline to push me into action.
When I was in my early twenties, I went to graduate school at George Washington University in Washington DC. I loved living on my own in the city and spent more time socializing thank studying. (And I won’t lie… I don’t regret a second of it!)
However, I got myself in a bit of a bind when I decided to put off writing two research papers that were due at the end of my first semester. I had to research, write, and turn in two different 25 page papers in the span of 48 hours.
I remember my eyes burning from exhaustion and my heart racing as I drove to campus with only minutes to spare as I rushed to turn in my first paper. I was so relieved to hand it in to my professor and then devastated when I realized on the drive home that I had no time to relax because I had to do it all over again for paper number two. It was a rough 48 hours to say the least.
I never would’ve worked that hard in that short amount of time without a serious, looming deadline, and the same is true of how we treat our goals.
Without a deadline, we’ll never really be pushed to accomplish anything. We need to give ourselves an end date so we’re motivated to take action, and an end date with consequences is even better because it makes us accountable to someone or something more than ourselves.
Bonus Goal Setting Tip: How to Create an even Smarter Goal!
When setting goals, we want to focus on actions more than results.
For example, we can’t necessarily control exactly when we lose weight. We can’t just say, “I want to lose weight” and immediately have pounds fall off (unfortunately!), but we can choose to eat good food, exercise, drink lots of water, and get adequate sleep knowing that those actions are the steps we need to take to reach our ultimate goal.
Obsessing over the result can also make us feel powerless. Choosing to focus on the actions we need to take to reach that result puts the power back in our hands.
When we focus on our actions, the results we want follow.
Tools to Help: How to Write Smart Goals
I’ve created a couple different resources to help us achieve our goals.
The first are a couple of free smart goal setting worksheet printables that coordinate with the This Organized Life planner (which has even more goal planning printables!) to help us set and achieve our smart goals.
The printables can be used to track overall progress as well as smaller action steps you’ll be taking in each specific month.
To get your copy of the Smart Goals Printable, click here.
Related: This Organized Life binder tour
Just fyi: each month has 31 days to check off for ease of design and so I didn’t have to recreate February for leap and non-leap years. Just cross out any days that don’t apply to that month in particular or give yourself bonus check marks!
Thank you for sharing Emily. It sounds like 2015 was a tough year for you and I pray 2016 is much better.
We have been in a similar boat and biting off more than you can chew redecorating and blogging it something I completely understand as well as the miscarriages (4 in 2013). It is hard to come through and pick up on the other side.
Bless you for pressing on and sharing your goals. I shared mine on my blog last week and was told more than once that I seemed a bit overly “ambitious”. A few of our blog goals included posting daily on my main blog, biweekly on my chronic illness blog, host a weekly link up on each and reach a specific number of followers the end of the year. We want to save $10,000 on a single income while paying cash for two new solid wood floors and installation and pay for the recent influx of medical bills from testing. I plan on blogging weekly about the ways we saved and earned each week and share monthly our progress.
Once again, thank you for sharing I love following your blog and the support you offer through the declutterathon group.
Thank you, Tina. I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriages and health issues. I’ve had three total now, but 2 in one year was enough for me. I’m not sure I could’ve made it through 4. 🙁 I’m running over to your blog to check it out now.
Emily,
You have a lot on your plate, just taking care of family. Take care of yourself, girl! If you can daily do the things on your list that encourage YOU, you will do well. I enjoy your openness & will pray for you, your health, your family. I know from experience that “stuff” that goes undone can drag you down. I applaud your desire & efforts. I’m working on getting rid of stuff that drags me down. Too much “stuff”. Focus on you & your family. These years do go by faster than you think.
God bless you!
Yes, the plate is quite full right now. Thanks so much for your kind, encouraging words 🙂
I am so happy I found your blog! I love these printables and the way you set up your goals. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Kim! I hope they’re helpful and you’re able to achieve everything you set out for this year! 🙂
So glad I found your post. Can’t wait to see the printables..
Thank you
Not sure what I’m missing, but I can’t find a link to the actual printables…
Hi Ashley,
They’re in my printable library. If you sign up for my newsletter you’ll get a link to the secret page and password and be able to print to your heart’s content. If you have any other questions please let me know! 🙂
I really loved reading your post and hope that you have a great 2016. I’m so impressed by your strength to get through all of those personal hardships and keep going with your blog. Reading through this post has really motivated me to organize myself and establish goals.
Thank you, Candace! Sometimes I feel like my blog is the only thing that helps me keep my sanity. 🙂
I love your goals! They are similar to a lot of mine!! Good luck on your journey ????
Thank you very much for sharing with us..^^
You’re very welcome! Thanks for visiting 🙂
Oh my! This is the best SMART goal setting printable and advise I have ever seen! I’ve tried making my own sheets but failed miserably…Thank you SO much for these! Now, to get motivated!
Thank you, Cindy! I hope it helps you with your goals. Good luck!
Hello- I tried subscribing but I haven’t received the printables. I checked my junk mail just in case and it isn’t there either.
Hi Kirsten, according to my email provider you are subscribed and a confirmation email may have been sent, but it’s a little unclear. If you could try subscribing again that would be great. Worst case scenario, I can always send you the printable directly later today. I hope resubscribing works so you don’t have to wait. Thanks so much for letting me know.
Do you write one goal per page so you have a family page, a fitness page and so on?
I usually write one goal per page, and I try not to make too many big changes at once otherwise I end up overwhelmed and not making any progress. I hope that helps! I do have other printables like this one for tracking daily progress of multiple goals at once.
I subscribed…I appreciate these printables. However, this “smart goals” one is the one I was most interested in and it is the ONE that does not print.
Instead of going to dropbox, the link takes you back here to the blog post.
Broken link? Or??
Thanks again…
dianne
Hi Dianne, Thanks for letting me know. Sometimes, if I update an image in one post it messes up a link in another. So frustrating! Anyway, I’ve updated the free printable library with a clickable link for the Smart Goals printables. You can find it directly under the “free printables” image. If anything else comes up, please let me know, and thanks again. 🙂
Thank you so much for these goal templates! My professors were big fans of SMART goals, and being very specific! They’re also very important to me as a teacher in creating goals for my lessons. I’m looking forward to using them this year in my personal life as I’m getting married this summer and my fiancé and I are starting a new life together!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!! I actually went to school to be a teacher as well, and I remember the emphasis placed on writing specific goals. I think that training has definitely helped in goal setting for other areas of my life too! I hope the worksheets are helpful and congrats again on the wedding!! Marriage is a wonderful adventure <3
I can’t find the link to print the smart goals worksheet. Love your printables, thank you!!!
Hi Dee, It’s available in my free printable library. Have you had a chance to look there yet? Sometimes the links in there get messed up so if that’s the case please let me know. Thanks! Emily
I’ve subscribed, and have also clicked on the link (which took me to this post) for the printables. However, they don’t work. Is there any way I could get them emailed to me, or am I doing this wrong?
One of the things I’ve realized lately is that I’m horrible at setting goals! I’ll mentally set them, but then I forget about them very, very quickly..
Hi Nicole! The links may have gotten messed up for some reason. I’m not sure, but I’m sorry it’s not working for you. Please email me at myloveforwords@gmail.com, and remind me of this issue, and we’ll get you those printables. Thanks!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Emily, for this post. I came here interested in getting a free printout, but I go touched by your honest, transparent words.
It’s been two years since this post. I wonder how you are doing. Maybe I should check your latest entry to find out. Still, I pray for you.
I love this SMART goals worksheet! Such a great design. I’d really like to download it but I can’t figure out how to do it. I subscribed and got the declutterathon workbook (thanks!) but no sign in details to find the SMART goals worksheet on your site. Thanks for your help.
Thanks Kendell!! I just redesigned the site so I’m still updated the printables area, but I’ve emailed the printables to you so you don’t have to wait. 🙂 Good luck with your goals!!
Can I get these goals worksheets? I can’t find a link.
Thanks.
Hi Kylie, Sure! There’s in my free printable library for newsletter subscribers. Have you subscribed to the newsletter yet?
Thank you for the helpful and beautiful content! I can’t wait to get started working with these printables, unfortunately I cannot get them downloaded 🙁 I have subscribed, and confirmed, please let me know what I am doing wrong!
Hi Shara, Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. Can you email me at emily@happyorganizedlife.com with the steps you’re taking and where things are going wrong? As a subscriber you should be able to access them so we’ll work to get that straightened out asap! Thanks for letting me know! -Emily
hi i am having a hard time downloading the goals and planner free printable not sure what to do. thank you!
Hi April, I’m so sorry to hear that! Please email me at emily@happyorganizedlife.com with what you’re doing and where you’re running into trouble, and we’ll get it figured out! 🙂 Thanks, Emily
I subscribed in order to get free printables, but i was redirected to the offer to buy non-free printables and did not get any free printables as promised. What shall I do?
Thank you!
Hi Aina, at the top of the “special offer” page it says the link to the free printables will be emailed to you. If you haven’t seen that email, my guess is it’s probably in your trash, junk, or “promotions” (if you’re using gmail) folder. Inside the welcome email, you’ll find a link to the free printable library and a password giving you access. If I can help with anything else, just let me know. Thanks!
Love this! I teach teens and this will help them get organized!!!
hello!, Where do I click to subscribe? I understand I can get access to the printable library for doing so? Looking for the link! Thanks for your help!
Hi Cameron, You can subscribe in any of the subscription boxes on the blog. We have one on the home page and then a box below most posts. If you need more help or have any other questions, just let me know. Thanks! – Emily
Hello (again), I was able to subscribe but am unable to find the free downloadable library. Help please! 🙂 Thank you!!
We’re having a bit of tech trouble with our emails right now (I’m sorry!!), but I’ll be sending out exactly how to access the free printable library in the weekly newsletter this week. Thanks for subscribing!
These look fabulous!But not sure where to find them. Are they still available?
Thank you, and they are! Unfortunately, the link got messed up somehow, but I’ll be updating this post with the correct link very soon. Sorry for the inconvenience <3
I love the free printables!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you!
I love freebies
Hello! I love these printables. Are they still available?
Thank you! Yes, they’re available for newsletter subscribers in the free printable library 🙂
Awesome!!
Sounds great!!!
Great!
Cant wait to get organized!
Fantastic tools!
Thank you!!!!
Thanks & Blessings, arf;)
This is really helpful to learn creating smart goals. Thank you!
Thanks
This will help me very much. I was asked for work to write my SMART Goals down for my career and I went blank. This wil get me started. I am super excited.
I’m so happy you’ve found it helpful! Good luck with those SMART goals! 🙂 -Emily