I used to write goals like “get in shape” or “make more money.” Guess what? Never happened.
The problem wasn’t motivation. It was that these weren’t real goals — they were wishes. There’s a difference.
A real goal is something you can plan for, track, and actually achieve. That’s where SMART goals come in.
Here’s how to write one in about 10 minutes.
Learning how to write a SMART goal is the fastest way to turn vague dreams into concrete plans. This step-by-step guide walks you through the exact process of writing a goal that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Follow these steps to write your first SMART goal and finally achieve what you set out to do.
Before we dive in, here’s what SMART means:
Now let’s build one from scratch.
Don’t overthink this. What’s one thing you want to change or achieve?
Bad starting points:
Good starting points:
Pick ONE thing. You can set more goals later, but start with one.
Take your starting point and get specific. Answer these questions when writing your goal:
Example transformation:
Starting point: “Get healthier”
After Step 2: “Lose 20 pounds so I have energy to play with my kids and feel confident at my high school reunion in July.”
See the difference? Now we know exactly what “healthier” means and why it matters. This is the foundation of writing an effective SMART goal.
If you can’t measure it, you can’t track it. Add concrete numbers to your goal.
Ask yourself:
Example evolution:
Before: “Lose 20 pounds so I have energy to play with my kids”
After: “Lose 20 pounds (from 180 to 160 lbs), tracking weekly weigh-ins every Monday morning and measuring waist size monthly.”
Now you can objectively track whether you’re on track.
This is where you list the specific actions you’ll take to write and execute your goal plan. Not just what you’ll achieve, but HOW.
The key question: What specific actions will I take to make this happen?
Example evolution:
“Lose 20 pounds (180 to 160 lbs) by:
Now you have a plan, not just a wish.
Reality check: Look at your action items. Do you have time for them? Do you have the resources? If not, adjust until it feels challenging but doable.
This is your “why” — the real reason this goal matters.
Ask yourself:
Example:
“Lose 20 pounds to have energy to keep up with my kids at the park, feel confident at my reunion, and reduce my risk of diabetes like my dad had.”
That’s a real why. “Because my doctor said so” won’t keep you motivated at 6 AM on a cold Monday.
Pick a specific end date. Not “sometime this year” — an actual date.
Then break it into monthly checkpoints so you know if you’re on track.
Example final goal:
“Lose 20 pounds (180 to 160 lbs) by July 15, 2025, through:
Milestones:
Why it matters: Energy to play with my kids, confidence at my reunion, better health than my dad had at my age.”
That’s a complete SMART goal.
Use this template to write any SMART goal. This simple template makes it easy to ensure your goal follows all the SMART criteria:
I will [specific outcome with numbers] by [deadline] through:
Milestones:
Why this matters: [Your personal reason]
Download the free SMART goal template to fill this out yourself and get started writing goals today.
Career Goal:
“I will earn my PMP certification by June 30, 2025, through:
Milestones:
Why this matters: Qualify for senior PM roles, increase salary by $15K, work on projects I actually care about.”
Financial Goal:
“I will save $10,000 for emergency fund by December 31, 2025, through:
Milestones:
Why this matters: Stop stressing about unexpected expenses, sleep better knowing I have a safety net, break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.”
Learning Goal:
“I will become conversational in Spanish by passing DELE A2 exam with 70%+ by October 15, 2025, through:
Milestones:
Why this matters: Connect with my partner’s family, travel to Spain without stress, boost my career options in our bilingual city.”
Mistake 1: Too vague
Mistake 2: No action plan
Mistake 3: No milestones
Mistake 4: Someone else’s goal
Mistake 5: No tracking system
Right now (10 minutes):
This week: 4. Share your goal with one person for accountability 5. Take your first action toward the goal 6. Set up your tracking system (app, spreadsheet, or journal)
Next Sunday: 7. Do your first weekly review (15 minutes) 8. Adjust anything that doesn’t feel right
Don’t wait for Monday. Don’t wait for next month. Start now.
Want the fill-in-the-blank template you can edit and print? Download it free.
It includes:
The difference between a wish and a goal is specificity and a plan.
“I want to get in shape” is a wish.
“I will run a 5K in under 30 minutes by June 30 by following Couch to 5K program and running 3x weekly” is a SMART goal.
One is vague and easy to forget. The other is clear and actionable.
You already know what you want to achieve. Now you know how to write SMART goals that actually work. Learning how to write goals properly changes everything.
Get the template and write your first SMART goal today.
Questions about writing your goal? Contact us — we’d love to help.
