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Finally it is officially Fall! Whenever a new season comes around, always seems to be a good time to set a reset button for changes in habits and mindsets. I was reading an article today about setting SMART goals.

I was exposed to the SMART concept many years ago at a conference. It was great reading this again and so I thought I would share the details of SMART which is so perfectly stated in an article written by Naphtali Hoff at SmartBrief.

Not only should we always be striving to set goals, but the goals should be attainable. Hoff explains the following:
There are many benefits of setting goals, including:

• Clarity and focus: Goals motivate us to cut through the weeds and get focused on what’s really important
• Planning: Goals help us map out the necessary steps to achieve our desired result
• Accountability: Goals force us to set and meet deadlines and be accountable to others
• Transparency: When shared, goals help others understand what we’re focused on
• Self-esteem: Goals raise our self-confidence as we see ourselves grow and progress

One way by which we can get closer towards actualizing our potential is to set SMART goals.There are a few different versions of the acronym SMART. Perhaps the most popular one is this:

• Specific: Well-defined, in that you know exactly what you seek to achieve
• Measurable: Quantifiable in a way that helps determine whether the goal has been achieved
• Attainable: A goal that is within reach, largely because of your deep desire to attain it
• Rewarding: fulfillment of the goals should provide you with a feeling of satisfaction and achievement (Note: many put “realistic” or “relevant” here)
• Time-bound: set to a time frame to ensure continued, focused efforts towards attainment.

SMART can also stand for:

• Specific: See above
• Meaningful: Something that is important to you and will serve to motivate you;
• Agreed-upon: The task should be agreed-to by those tasked to complete it;
• Results-focused: The goal should be written in terms of outcomes;
• Trackable: Progress should be trackable to determine that efforts are on track.

And then there’s this application of the “ART” of SMART:

• Accountability: To succeed, you need to be held accountable, such as by a person or a program that you sign up for;
• Resonance: The goal should reverberate within you, demanding attention;
• Thrilling: It should be big, something that excites you and keeps you going.

So what are your SMART goals for daily living?