Whether you want to finish a college degree, get a raise or promotion, or just finish cleaning out your garage, setting goals can help you clarify the issue and remove obstacles so that you can achieve success at your chosen task. According to Goal Setting College, people who set what are known as "SMART" goals--goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely--tend to succeed more frequently than those who don't.
Specific
The first feature of a SMART goal is that it is specific, according to Top Achievement. To specify what you want, ask yourself the "five W's": what, where, when, why and who. Once you know the answers, try to phrase your specific goal in a single sentence. For instance, you might decide that to get in shape, your goal will be to walk 1 mile after work every day.
Measurable
Goals that are measurable are easier to achieve because you can see your progress, according to Goal Setting College. A measurable goal is one that tells you specifically where you need to be to have achieved the goal. For example, if you are planning to get in shape by walking 1 mile daily, you can make this goal measurable by defining "in shape" as losing 10 pounds, 2 inches off your waist, or another type of measurement.
Attainable
An attainable goal is one that you have the skills, abilities and other resources to reach, according to Mind Tools. If you're not sure whether you can attain your goal, try asking friends or family members if they think your goal is feasible for you. Based on their answers, you might want to start with a smaller goal or rearrange your plans to make your goal attainable. For example, if you want to walk 1 mile after work, but your spouse points out that you're too busy after work to fit in the walk, you might want to modify your goal to walk in the morning.
Realistic
According to Top Achievement, a realistic goal is one that you are both willing and able to work toward. Even if a goal is attainable, it might not be realistic if you aren't inspired to put in the effort required. For instance, if you hate walking, a goal to walk 1 mile a day might not be realistic. If your goal seems unrealistic, try modifying it. For instance, perhaps you hate walking but love to swim. In that case, swimming a half-hour a day might be more realistic than walking 1 mile.
Tangible
A tangible goal is one that you can experience with one of your five senses, according to Top Achievement. It is a goal you can see, hear, taste, smell or touch. Tangible goals tend to be more motivating than intangible goals because you can directly experience the results of your efforts. For example, you can make your plan to lose weight by exercising daily tangible by stepping on the scale or measuring your waist with a tape measure one day a week. Seeing the decrease in the numbers is a tangible reminder that sticking to your exercise plan pays off.
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