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Do you want to set goals that will help you succeed in 2020? In this blog, I will teach you how to set really SMART goals for your life for the coming year.

THE PROBLEM: VAGUE GOALS

As people contemplate 2020, they begin to make New Year’s resolutions. You may be one of those people or, perhaps, you may be thinking about your goals for the New Year. The problem is that many people set goals that are too vague. As a result, they are not sure what they really want to accomplish.

Here are some examples of vague goals.

  • “I want to lose weight.”

That sounds great! But, the issue is, how many pounds do you want to lose?

  • “I want to save money.”

That’s an important goal! However, the question is, how much money do you want to save?

  • “I want to improve my marriage.”

That’s honorable! But, which areas of your marriage do you want to improve? Communication? Finances? Intimacy?

  • “I want to grow my business.”

That’s exciting! What aspect of your business do you want to grow? Do you want to increase your revenue?

  • “I want to be more spiritual.”

That’s a noble thing! What do you mean by spiritual? Do you want to pray more regularly or attend church weekly?

Another problem with New Year’s resolutions or goal-setting is that people abandon them as the year progresses. This may be due to a lack of motivation or purpose. This reminds me of something that I read in the Bible where the apostle Paul says, “I do not run like a man running aimlessly” 1 Cor. 9:26 (NIV). This means that Paul knew his purpose and mission. He was not going from place to place, from activity to activity without a sense of purpose.

WHAT ARE SMART GOALS?

To start 2020 on the right foot, you need to set really SMART goals. The acronym SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Counselors use this technique or tool to help clients set goals. A SMART goal gives direction, purpose, focus, and yes, motivation! Let’s take a look at each one of them.

Specific

Specific goals give clarity. You need to be able to answer the what, who and where.

What?

You need to determine what behaviors or actions you want to start, change, increase, decrease, or even stop.

Who?

Your goal may involve relationships. Obviously, you are always part of your goal. However, if it is a relational goal, then, another person is involved. But, remember, you cannot set a goal for another person even when your goal involves them.

Where?

This refers to the setting of your goal. This goal may take place at home, work, or school? For example, if your goal is to get a promotion or a raise, the setting of this goal is your workplace. 

Measurable

You need to be able to measure your goal. So, how can you measure it? For example, if you want to lose weight, you will need to determine how many pounds you want to lose – “I want to lose 10 pounds.” If you want to save money, you will need to decide how much – “I want to save $ 1,000.00 dollars.” 

Attainable or Achievable

The goal needs to be something that is within your reach, otherwise it will be unrealistic. You need to think in terms of having the resources you need to reach the goal and being able to access the needed resources. For example, if your goal is to travel the world, but you do not have the finances, your goal is unachievable. However, I am not saying that you cannot set ambitious goals that require faith.

Relevant

The goal you set needs to be connected with your overall sense of purpose in life. In other words, How will this goal contribute towards your mission in life? This goal needs to be consistent with your core values. For instance, going back to school to get a Master’s degree to further your career may be relevant to your overall professional goals.

Time-bound

You will need to determine a realistic time frame to reach the goal. This helps you answer the when question. For instance, a SMART financial goal may be stated as “I want to save $ 1,000.00 by December 31, 2020.”

Let’s look at this goal “I want to save $ 1,000.00 by December 31, 2020.” in light of the SMART goal acronym.

  • Specific – The behavior is clear “saving money.”
  • Measurable – The goal can be measured by checking the bank account.
  • Attainable – In this scenario, the assumption is that the person can save about 84.00 per month.
  • Relevant – Saving for an emergency fund can avoid going into debt.
  • Time-bound – This goal has a definite time frame.

In conclusion, this brief article provided some guidance on how to set really SMART goals. So, go ahead and write your SMART goals for 2020 and share in the comments below one of them to motivate other readers. Be sure to set goals in 7 areas of life.

Subscribe and get the Motivation & Growth SMART goals worksheet.

Watch our video How to Plan for Success in 2020.

Keep on growing!

Drs. Elias and Denise Moitinho