Want to finally achieve your dream goals & improve your wellness?  Every time I use S.M.A.R.T. Goals, I feel calmer, accomplished, and mentally healthier.  Read how 4 steps can help you create and achieve your S.M.A.R.T. Dream Goals.

Struggle accomplishing goals?

Goals seem too big?  Or maybe not big enough?  Maybe there is a big dream goal you’ve been wanting to accomplish but are having trouble getting there?

In This Blog Post:

Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals

How to set, brainstorm, and plan achievable S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals
   ** Free Printable: S.M.A.R.T. Goals **
2. Brainstorm Goals
   ** Free Template: Brainstorming Simplified **
3. Simplify Goal Setting into Baby Steps

Series: Time Management Skills

1. Time Management Skills Improve Self Care: How managing time helps you manage & improve self care.
2. Create More Time with Time Protective Boundaries: How to create more time in your routine, in your day, and in your health.
3. Achievable S.M.A.R.T. Goals: How to set, brainstorm, and plan achievable S.M.A.R.T. goals.
   ***THIS BLOG POST***

Setting Achievable Goals:

Improving time management can help you reach your goals, improve relationships, and increase productivity.

How to create & set Achievable S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals can help you achieve your dreams, as well as both long-term and short-term goals!

S.M.A.R.T. Acronym

(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely)

S = Specific             

The more specific you goal is, the more likely you are to achieve it.  The act of writing it down actually helps you brain remember it the goal is more likely to completed.  Example: I will get in shape by walking (versus I will get in shape).

M = Measurable

Measuring a goal helps you know how you can achieve it. Otherwise, how would you know when you’ve accomplished the goal?  Example: I want to walk for 10 minutes a day, 3 times a week.

A = Achievable (Attainable)

The goal needs to be actually attainable, otherwise, it is not a realistic goal.  I like to ask my clients, is this goal easily achievable?  Example: walking 10 minutes a day may be more achievable than walking 1 hour a day.

R = Realistic

Goals must be realistic to achieve.  Make sure you have the resources and the time to invest in reaching this goal.  Example: It is more more realistic that I will do aerobics inside rather than walk outside in the freezing temperature.

T = Timely

Timely goals have a time limit, such as a deadline, will help the goal be accomplished.  Choose short-term goals like daily goals, weekly goals, and monthly goals (versus long-term goals like 1 year or 5 year goals).

Real Life Application:

• Choose a goal that is so easily achievable that it is laughable, then you’re highly likely to succeed. The more you succeed reaching goals, the more you’ll continue to set goals and work towards your dreams.
  • What is a self care goal that is easily achievable?
• Plan self care as S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely
  • Schedule self care for 1 hour each week
  • Make a plan for 10-15 minutes of self care each day
  • Plan self care for a half-day or a whole day every season/semester

S.M.A.R.T. Free Printable PDF

Download these 5 free printable S.M.A.R.T. Goals for your fridge,
or bulletin board, or on your desk.

2. Brainstorming Goals

Brainstorming can help you solve problems, think of new ideas, and reach even bigger goals.  Here’s tips for brainstorming goals in a group and as an individual.

Brainstorming Tips for a Group:

Group guidelines:

1. Write the problem down clearly for everyone to see.
2. Each person takes 5 minutes to write down as many ideas to solve the problem.
   • All ideas are acceptable
   • Ideas don’t have to be practical or realistic… that’s handled later.
3. Everyone shares their ideas out loud if the group is smaller than 15.If the group is larger than 15, break people into smaller groups of 5-10 so everyone’s ideas are heard.
4. Write the ideas on a large white board or those wonderful giant sticky notes.
   • See what similarities the ideas have in common. Jot down the ideas into main categories.
   • Rank the categories by order of importance, based on the group’s high ranking priority.
   • Then rearrange the categories in the high ranking order of importance.
   • Be sure to acknowledge everyone’s ideas, especially the ideas that may happen at a later time, meaning the lower ranking ideas.
5. Now you have the top brainstorming ideas.

Individual Brainstorming Tips:

1. Write the problem down in the middle of a blank page.
2. Take 5 minutes to write down as many ideas to solve the problem.
   • All ideas are acceptable
   • Ideas don’t have to be practical or realistic… that’s handled later.
   • Like mind-mapping, write the ideas down around the problem in the middle.
3. See what similarities the ideas have in common. Jot down the ideas into main categories.
   • Write the ideas on a white board or those wonderful large sticky notes.  Writing the ideas down on a larger space can help:
     • slow the brain down to focus on these main categories
     • visualize the main categories with margin for creativity to happen
   • Rank the categories by order of importance.
   • Then rearrange the categories in the high ranking order of importance.
   • Be sure to give yourself a congratulations for thinking of so many ideas, thanking yourself for the energy, time, and creativity you put into this project.
4. Now you have the top brainstorming ideas.

Real Life Application:

Brainstorm goals and dreams you would like accomplish in the future.

• What problem would you like solved?  Write it down.
• For 5 minutes, write down as many ideas to solve the problem.
• What similarities do your ideas have in common? Jot down the ideas into main categories.
• How important are these categories of ideas?  Rank the categories by order of importance.  Now you have your top brainstorming ideas.

Download this Free Template: Brainstorming Simplified 

3. Simplify goal setting into baby steps.

Simplify large goals into smaller goals that have baby steps.

Start with Baby Steps

If you have a one-year goal, simplify the long-term goal into monthly goals, then simplify the first month’s goal into weekly goals, and the first week’s goals into daily goals. These daily goals may even be better simplified into baby steps.

Simpler goals = achievable goals = successful goals

The simpler & smaller the goal = the more easily achievable it is and the more likely you are to achieve it and succeed

If the goal is still overwhelming or too much:

• extend the deadline
• revise the goal to be more realistic
• review the key elements in S.M.A.R.T. goals. (smart, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely)

Tips for Simplifying Goal Setting: 

• Get started with a small task for 5-10 minutes
• Find 5 minutes in an hour to do one baby step
• If you’re having trouble succeeding with a baby step goal, try to break it down further to smaller baby step goals, or tasks.

Real Life Application:

• What is one baby step idea for self care that would be so easy to do?
• What are self care breaks you can do in 5-10 minutes?
• Listen to your body: Lay down, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, stretch your shoulders and neck (where we usually hold our tension), get up and walk around, give your eyes a break, eat a snack.

Summary of this Blog Post: 

Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals

How to set, brainstorm, and plan achievable S.M.A.R.T. Goals.

1. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals
   ** Free Printable: S.M.A.R.T. Goals **
2. Brainstorm Goals
   ** Free Template: Brainstorming Simplified **
3. Simplify Goal Setting into Baby Steps

Anytime I use these 3 Time Management Skills, I see an improvement in what I can accomplish as well as improvements in my self care.  I get a whole lot more done using time management skills, and I feel calmer and not overwhelmed.

Series: Time Management Skills

1. Time Management Skills Improve Self Care: How managing time helps you manage & improve self care.
2. Create More Time with Time Protective Boundaries: How to create more time in your routine, in your day, and in your health.
3. S.M.A.R.T. Goals: How to set achievable S.M.A.R.T. goals.
   ***THIS BLOG POST***

I hope this journey of improving your time management skills helps you find more time for your self-care and improves your wellness. I’d love to hear about your journey towards wellness and what helps you find more time for self care?

I’d love to hear from you, please leave me a comment, or join me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Blessings,
Beth

Disclaimer: This article has resources about restoring wellness, and is based on my research and my experiences.  This information is not meant to take the place of counseling or therapy.  If at any time you feel uncomfortable or need to talk to someone, wellness resources may be helpful.

If you need someone to help to talk to, counselors and mental health professionals can help provide support resources on:

• time management
• stress management
• procrastination
• relaxation skills
• goal setting
• personal development