Each of us has deep-seated goals and amazing ideas, such as learning to play an instrument, launching a business, or becoming extremely fit. However, the distance between having a dream and actually putting in the effort to realize it is wide and frequently frustrating. Goals are plans, whereas dreams are wishes. Setting effective goals is the crucial first step in transforming those thrilling but hazy ideas into tangible daily tasks. In order to keep your energy concentrated and ensure that your efforts result in real progress, it is the act of providing your ambition with a defined destination and a trustworthy roadmap.
The best way to close this gap is to make sure your objectives are S.M.A.R.T. This is a filtration mechanism for hazy thinking, not merely an abbreviation. A S.M.A.R.T. goal needs to be: Time-bound (when exactly will it be completed?), Relevant (does it match with your values?), Specific (what exactly will you do?), Measurable (how will you track progress?), and Achievable (is this realistic given your present resources?). For instance, an S.M.A.R.T. goal may be, “I will walk for 30 minutes, three times a week, until the end of this month,” rather than the nebulous fantasy, “I want to be fit.” By eliminating uncertainty, this paradigm makes the objective immediately achievable.
The crucial next step after establishing an S.M.A.R.T. goal is to break it down into smaller commitments. Because they feel daunting, big ambitions frequently lead to procrastination. The trick is to make it easier to start the task than to avoid it by lowering the entry barrier. The initial micro-commitment should be “Create the outline” rather than “create the paper” if your aim is to create a 10-page paper. “Write the title.” The next? The great cure to inertia is momentum, which is created by these tiny, steady steps. Every micro-step you accomplish reinforces your identification as a follow-through person by sending a positive signal to your brain.
Real progress is achieved by the silent, repetitive completion of minor tasks rather than with a single, valiant leap. Setting goals that work gives you the clarity you need to deal with life’s inevitable disappointments and distractions. You can make sure that every minute you spend is purposefully moving you closer to the life you want by taking the time to precisely define your destination and consistently committing to the process. Because the path from dream to action has been clearly delineated, a goal that is correctly set is a goal that has been partially achieved.