1. All goals are not created equally.
SMART Goals
All goals are not created equally.

2. Alert: If you don’t achieve your New Year’s resolutions, you are. . .
...just like everyone else?

3. Whether you make New Year’s resolutions or not, here’s how to set goals you will actually reach. Make them SMART.
(it’s corny but it works.)

4. S: Specific What *exactly* would be good enough?
“I want to get good grades.”
“I want to get good grades this semester.”
“I want to get good grades in all of my classes by April.”
“I want more friends.”
“I want to find more friends who like talking about ____.”
The more specific, the better. Get it?

5. M: Measurable
“I want to get good grades in all of my classes by April.”
“I want to get at least 3 A’s and 3 B’s by April, 2018.”
“I want to find more friends who like talking about ____.”
“I want to talk about ____ with new friends in person and online at least once per week for a month.”
Measurable means there is a clear way to be sure whether or not you met your goal. Use numbers and timelines.

6. A: Attainable Ask yourself if your goal is realistic.
Chances are you’re not going
to win a gold medal in Olympic
ping pong in the next 4 days.
That’s a SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE
goal, but it’s ATTAINABLE for,
statistically speaking, NO ONE.
Attainable goals are realistic.

7. A: Attainable
For the grades example, you can’t control the past anymore. If you had less-than-stellar grades in the past, it is mathematically impossible to get a perfect GPA in high school.
(That’s just not how math works. It’s OK. You’re still a good person.)
Try setting your goal for the next one or two months.
If you want a bigger goal, do that too. But accomplishing goals is fun so engineer it so you get to celebrate reaching small goals often! (They can all lead up to your bigger goal.)

8. R: Relevant “Does this goal really matter to me?”
The answer should be YES and you better have a good reason!
Many people set goals that sound good in theory or look good on paper, but if there is no real internal drive, they just give up when it’s uncomfortable or boring or difficult.
If you know WHY you’re studying extra hard or overcoming shyness or pushing past your comfort zone in running, you’re much more likely to reach your goal.

9. Ask yourself these questions:
Why is this goal important to you?
What are the benefits and rewards of accomplishing this goal?
Why will you be able to stay committed in the long-run?
Does the goal just sound good, or is this something that you know will still be important to you a month from now?
Does it align with your personal values?

10. Going back to the examples...
“I want to get at least 3 A’s and 3 B’s by April, 2018.”
“I want to get at least 3 A’s and 3 B’s by April, 2018, because I want to be a lawyer who fights for environmental justice and I know I need to have a good transcript and really understand science, languages, and history to do what I know is right and live a comfortable lifestyle.”

11. T: Time-bound What’s your deadline?
When will you be absolutely sure you accomplished your goal?
If you have a larger goal, break it into mini-goals with shorter deadlines like 2 weeks, 1 month, or a 6 week grading period. (You can always extend the goal or make it a little easier or more challenging once you meet your first goal.)

12. Right now: Set a SMART goal
(or make some adjustments to a New Year’s resolution)
Questions you may ask yourself when setting your goals and objectives are:
What exactly do I want to achieve?
Where?
How? What precise actions can I take? What if that doesn’t work?
When?
With whom? Who might be able to help me when it’s difficult?
What are the conditions and limitations? How will I overcome them?
Why exactly do I want to reach this goal?
What’s the most fun or compelling way for me to achieve it?

13. Good luck!! Just kidding. You don’t need luck.
You just set a realistic goal that you’re passionate about. You strategized about how you’re going to do it and you have some back up ideas too.
You’ll do great. :)