Use this list of SMART goals with examples to make positive changes in your life this year!
“New year, new me!” – isn’t this a promise we keep making to ourselves at the beginning of every new year? And do we actually keep it?
Well, sometimes it’s hard to track your progress toward your desired outcomes…Life happens and it’s not always easy to stay focused on the things that matter most to us.
There are so many positive changes you can make to improve your life, though, and using SMART goals can be a great way to help you create your “new you” this year.
What Are SMART Goals
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives that help you plan and achieve all your goals. The acronym “SMART” stands for:
- Specific: Your goal should be clear and specific, so that you know exactly what you are working towards.
- Measurable: Your goal should be measurable, so that you can track your progress and know when you have achieved it.
- Achievable: Your goal should be achievable so that you can realistically achieve it within a certain timeframe.
- Relevant: Your goal should be relevant, so that it aligns with your values and long-term vision.
- Time-bound: Your goal should have a specific deadline, so that you have a sense of urgency and can stay motivated to work towards it.
How To Set SMART Goals
To illustrate, here’s an example of how to set a SMART goal:
I want to create an additional source of income this year:
Good for you, now make it:
- Specific: By the end of the year I want to be making $500 a month painting and selling shoes.
- Measurable: To achieve this, I have to sell 5 pairs of shoes for $100 each per month.
- Attainable: I’ll spend two hours a day working on my products and marketing my business on social media.
- Relevant: I love painting and I’ll make extra income. I also have an art degree, so now I’ll make the most of what I’ve learned to sell beautifully painted shoes.
- Time-bound: I’ll create a website and develop my Instagram page to showcase my work, so I can attract customers and be able to take orders in one month.
List Of SMART Goals & SMART Goal Examples
Have a look at our list of 21 more examples for SMART goals to set this year and get inspired! You can come up with your own ideas or simply adjust some of these to work best for you.
via Ilnur Kalimullin
1. SMART Goal Of learning French.
I will pass the beginner level and be able to hold basic conversations in French in three months. I will be spending an hour before work learning French using the app on my phone. I’m going to visit Nice this summer and speaking some French will definitely help me out!
2. SMART Goal Of donating to a charity.
I will have donated $600 to the local animal shelter this year. I will donate $50 a month, which is 2% of my net monthly pay, by setting a direct debit for the charity with the transfer going through a few days after I receive my paycheck. Since I love animals, I’d love to support financially animal rescues.
3. SMART Goal Of going on a trip to Italy.
I will go on a week-long trip to Italy visiting Rome in August 2023. To achieve this, I will save an extra $2000 by canceling my gym and Netflix subscriptions for the next six months and taking 2 extra clients a month. Visiting Rome has always been a dream of mine!
4. SMART Goal Of finishing the novel I’m writing.
I will finish the novel I started writing a year ago in the next two months. To achieve this, I’ll need to write around 3500 words a week and will track my progress by making sure that I write about 500 words each weekday and at least twice more on Saturdays. I love writing and publishing a book has always been a dream of mine, so in order to reach this stage, I need to finalize the first draft.
5. SMART Goal Of spending more fun time with family.
For the next month, I will spend Thursday evenings with my family doing fun activities like going to the cinema, trying dance classes or bowling! I’ll make bookings, send invites and finish work at 5 pm, then we’ll go out and later have dinner together. These family activities will bring us closer together and strengthen our relationship.
6. SMART Goal Of volunteering.
I will volunteer as a dance teacher at the local charity that supports abandoned and orphan children for the next six months. I will teach hour-long Zumba classes every Monday and Thursday. I’ve had this idea for a while and since I have more time now, it’d make me happy to use my skills to contribute to children’s well-being.
7. SMART Goal Of creating an emergency fund.
I will save $2000 in an emergency fund over six months. I’ll set up a standing order to move $335 into my savings account each month. I’ll schedule it for the day when I get paid, so I won’t feel tempted to spend the money. Last month I had unexpected expenses for medical bills and I want from now on to avoid the financial pressure I had to experience.
8. SMART Goal Of Eating More Vegetables.
For the next month, I will have one green smoothie daily to be healthy. I’ll replace snacking between meals with a different green smoothie every day. I want to beat bad snacking habits and the smoothies will help me focus on nutrient-dense foods while avoiding added sugars.
9. SMART Goal Of Networking On LinkedIn
My goal is to increase interaction on LinkedIn by 20% and build my connection list by 20 in five weeks. I’ll start by setting up a LinkedIn profile by Saturday. I’ll then dedicate about 30 minutes in the evening to network on LinkedIn and make minimum three significant connections each week. This will help to establish myself on LinkedIn and use the platform to make meaningful connections, this will be useful in my role as a Managing Director.
10. SMART Goal Of Lifting Weights.
My SMART fitness goal is to gradually increase the amount of deadlift weight at the gym to reach 336lb in two months. I’m currently lifting 246lb and will increase the weight by 20lb in every two weeks, first reducing the number of reps and then restoring them to normal in the second week. I’ll achieve my body goal to build muscle and get stronger by making changes in strength training.
11. SMART Goal Of Buying A Luxury Item.
I’ll buy that Gucci bag in six months by saving $1800. I can save $300 every month by not buying any clothes and jewelry. I’m a big fan of Gucci and want to feel more elegant.
12. SMART Goal Of Checking on my grandparents more often.
For the next four months I will call my grandparents twice a week – on Tuesday and Thursday and will visit them every two months. They only live 50 miles away, so if I visit them on Friday, I can spend an entire weekend with them. I’ve been way too focused on my work and marriage to pay them the attention they deserve and I want to change this.
13. SMART Goal Of Getting Organized At Home.
I’ll empty, clean and reorganize all cabinets and drawers in our house within a month. I can spend around 15 minutes organizing two cabinets and drawers every day. Reorganizing the cabinets and drawers will help us get rid of unnecessary objects and keep them neat and clutter-free.
14. SMART Goal Of Walking 10,000 Steps.
I’ll be walking 10,000 steps every day this month. I usually walk 10,000 steps in 90 minutes, so every day I’ll go out for two 45-minute walks – one during my lunch break and one after work. Walking will help me reduce stress and get some cardio in!
15. SMART Goal of going to bed and waking up earlier
During the next two weeks I’ll go to bed and wake up two hours earlier to optimize my daily schedule. I’ll cut down on evening screen time and start going at 10 pm and waking up at 6 am. Going to bed and waking up earlier will help me feel more relaxed and get exposed to more daylight which will be beneficial for my physical and mental health.
via Louis Hansel
16. SMART Goal Of Building An Apartment Garden.
By the end of the month, I’ll have grown three different kinds of flowers and will keep gradually expanding my apartment garden. I’ll plant an African violet this weekend and will then plant a begonia the next weekend. Adding flowers to the interior space will make our apartment look brighter and will improve air quality.
17. SMART Goal of packing healthy school lunches for my children.
During the next two months, I will have healthy lunches packed for my children for every school day. I don’t have time to cook in the mornings, so I’ll need to prep healthy food in advance. I want to improve my family’s diet and this will definitely help to cut out fast food from my kids’ menu.
18. SMART Goal of developing good working relationships with my colleagues.
I want to have developed a better working relationship with three of my colleagues in the next three months. From January, I’ll start working in the office three days a week, will have lunch with my colleagues, and make sure we’re having meaningful conversations. I feel like my decision to work remotely is getting in the way of building stronger relationships at my workplace, and going to the office more often will definitely help!
19. SMART Goal of cutting off added sugar.
My goal is to cut off added sugar over the next month in order to improve my insulin sensitivity. I’ll stop having all sorts of sweets, will read food labels and will go for a fruit bowl or a healthier sugar-free dessert. I’ve been consuming lots of added sugar over the holidays and I want to take steps to prevent any serious health problems and lose some weight.
via Andrik Langfield
20. SMART Goal of making the bed every morning.
Over the next three months, I will become a person who makes my bed every morning. I’ll wake up 10 minutes earlier to put my bedroom in order. Making the bed will give me a quick sense of daily accomplishment and will encourage me to keep the rest of my place tidy.
21. SMART Goal of finding a better-paid job
I want to land a better-paid job at a larger institution during the next three months, I’ll strive to have at least one job offer in two months. To achieve this goal, I’ll spend weekends improving my CV, applying for jobs and connecting with other professionals in the field. I want a job where I can be paid well and can apply experience and grow and develop my skills.
Well, I hope you got some inspiration and some ideas on how to set goals with this list of SMART goals and the SMART goal examples we used here. Remember, everyone is at a different place in their life, so make the goals specific to your current situation. Really sit down and listen, take a walk without any distractions and think of what you want to accomplish during the next year!
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