Tag: smart goals

setting goals

How are your SMART goals defined?

Lori @ Touch of OrganizedLeave a comment

What can I say about goal setting?  We have all been there with work-related goal setting when it comes to our performance reviews.  That dreaded process of setting goals to discuss with your manager for the next year, most of which are just words to fill the page and complete the task. Every year, asking yourself how are my SMART goals defined this time?

I’m not talking about that kind of goal!

I’m talking about the ones you actually want to set for yourself and want to accomplish!  The goal or goals can be related to your job, to your family, to your health, to anything.  Personally, I want to focus on some of the health changes that I have been having, as well as balancing my regular job and my business here.

Whether you want to set financial goals or your overflowing inbox or even your cluttered bathroom, setting goals can sometimes be overwhelming.

Now all of these plans sound great, but what does it all actually mean?  How do we take it from theory into practice for real life?  With these goal setting tips!

Let’s take the example of “I want to clean out my closet”.  If yours looks anything like mine, that is a daunting goal — to the point where I’m unlikely to even start.  I mean, what are the Christmas bows doing next to my jeans that don’t fit?  Seriously!

SMART goals defined

Let’s look at
SMART goals defined!

* Specific
* Measurable
* Achievable
* Relevant
* Time-bound

S — I want to clean out my closet so that I can see my clothing more easily.

M — I want to eliminate 20 items from my stuff that I no longer need or use.

A — I will need to gather my supplies and set aside the time to get it done.

R — This will help streamline my morning and get me out the door faster.

T — I want to accomplish this within the next 30 days.

It also helps to envision the final result.  Right now, you’re on Island A and you want to be on Island B.

  • Island A is the state of your closet right now.  Shoes that you bought 10 years ago that you haven’t worn in 8 years; a bridesmaid’s dress you wore once in a wedding you can barely remember; and let’s not forget those Christmas bows.  How did they get in there anyway?
  • Island B is the land of color coordinated coat hangers and perfectly aligned pairs of shoes and a shelf display of handbags.  (Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration).  But Island B could realistically be the clothing you wear regularly hanging up nicely and no more digging through those bridesmaids’ dresses to find the sweater you need for work this morning.

When you imagine living on Island B, what does it look like?  What does it feel like?  Are your mornings a little easier?  Do you have a better idea what to add to your wardrobe when you go shopping?  Can you breathe just a little easier when you walk into that closet?

Once you’ve defined your SMART goals, you can keep that image to motivate you to get the goal accomplished!

While the closet goal is a relatively simple one, some goals are more involved and can have more steps or tasks.  If you are ready to achieve all your goals, big or small, check out this amazing goal planner made just for you and all the things you want to accomplish!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of SMART goals?

The general meaning of SMART goals is to set realistic goals that can be defined, measured, and accomplished. When goals are too vague, they tend to get lost. But when you outline the terms of the goal, it becomes more real and more achievable.

What are the 5 parts of SMART?

  1. Smart
  2. Measurable
  3. Achievable
  4. Relevant
  5. Time-bound

How do you write a SMART goal?

  • Smart – The who, what, when, where, why, and which of the goal you are setting.
  • Measurable – What type of metrics will you use to measure your progress and your completion?
  • Achievable – How will you accomplish your goal? Will you need a new skill? Will you need help?
  • Relevant – How does this individual goal line up with your overall ideas and objectives?
  • Time-bound – Set a realistic time limit. If it’s a large goal, make sure to break it down into milestones.

What are some SMART goal examples?

  1. S – I want to earn a promotion at work.
  2. M – I will seek new projects and certifications.
  3. A – My boss already mentioned a possibility.
  4. R – I want to keep my career moving upward.
  5. T – I will complete the project and the certification and apply within 4 months.
  1. S – I want to lose 25 pounds.
  2. M – I’ll track of my food, exercise, and weight.
  3. A – I am in good health to start this regimen.
  4. R – I want to have more energy for activities.
  5. T – I have already RSVP-ed for my class reunion in 6 months.

You may also be interested in…

Get your worksheet today!

Subscribe to get our latest content by email.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
    Built with ConvertKit
    setting goals

    Great tools and tricks to setting your goals

    Lori @ Touch of Organized3 Comments

    Whether we are talking about personal or professional goals, there is a method to the madness. Oftentimes, we know generally what we want to accomplish but don’t have a moment to really sit down and think through the details. For example, maybe you want to streamline your morning routine. But what does that exactly mean? Hmmm – maybe it means clean out your closet so that you can find the things you want to wear. You know you want to accomplish this, however it all seems overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. But where does the plan even begin?

    I’m sure you’ve heard of SMART goals, but I’d like to give you a quick overview using our example of cleaning out the closet.

    SMART goal breakdown

    BREAK IT DOWN
    S — I want to clean out my closet so that I can see my clothing more easily.
    M — I want to eliminate 20 items from my stuff that I no longer need or use.
    A — I will need time and supplies; I need to gather my supplies and set aside an afternoon to sort everything.
    R — This will help streamline my morning routine and get me out the door faster.
    T — I want to accomplish this within the next 30 days.

    Doesn’t that seem more doable now? It does to me! Instead of facing an overflowing closet in the middle of your hectic morning, now you know what you need to get done with a realistic and measurable way to see success.

    Now let’s talk about the tasks involved once the goal is set — there can be quite a few!

    If you have a larger goal with a list of milestone tasks or have multiple goals at one time, that list can be daunting.

    Here is an excellent way to prioritize all of the things that need to get done. I keep this little chart on a Post-It note on my computer. If I’m trying to figure out what needs to be done first, I refer to this and it helps me prioritize what needs to be done!

    Urgent + Important = DO IT
    Not Urgent + Important = PLAN IT
    Urgent + Not Important = DELEGATE IT
    Not Urgent + Not Important = ELIMINATE IT

    Prioritize those goals

    I hope these tools and tricks help you define and set your goals
    If you are ready to start setting your goals today, sign up below and get this amazing worksheet to walk you through your next steps!

    Set your goals today with this worksheet in the library!
    first steps to getting organized

    First Steps to Getting Organized: the 5-Step Organization Plan

    Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

    Let’s get our organization on track! Inside this five-step plan you’ll find the first steps to getting organized.

    Ultimately, the last few years have been unorganized. That could include physically from staying at home, emotionally from being isolated or from loss, financially from a loss of income. It can mean so many things for all of us.

    There was overwhelming negative news, worldwide distress and trauma, and some days it was hard to just get up and get moving. Personally, I even struggled to get through a new novel since my focus was all over the place.

    With the new year, I think almost all of us are ready to open a new book and move forward. Let’s work together to make a plan to get organized!

    But what are the first steps to getting organized?

    1.MY GOAL – What do I want to organize?
    Are you looking at your garage in frustration? Are your bathroom cabinets overflowing with face cream and body lotion? Is your email inbox so full you avoid it altogether? Do you struggle to find enough time for your to-do list?
    The first step is setting a SMART goal. it’s hard to make a plan if you don’t know where you are going! Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Once you have set your personal goal, it’s time to work on your motivation.

    2.MY WHY – How will I stay motivated?
    Why did I set this particular goal? What will I do with the extra time or space that I am creating?
    Decluttering and organizing are good in their own right, but focus on your true goal. An organized garage is so nice to see but is the real goal to be able to fit a second car in there? If you keep that final mental picture with you, it will be easier to stay on track.

    3.MY PLAN – How will I get there?
    When you consider your overflowing bathroom cabinets, what do you have in mind to really clean it out? If there are tons of tiny hotel shampoo bottles, consider giving them to a local shelter. If you have piles of unopened eyeshadows, there are websites where you might be able to swap or sell them. When addressing a product accumulation like in a bathroom, one of the biggest tips I can offer is to stop shopping until you have addressed the products you already have.

    4.MY TOUCHPOINT – What will get me back on track if I waiver?
    Life gets in the way, it happens to all of us. We get distracted and lose track of our goal from time to time. What will you use to get back on track? If you need some help figuring out this step, revisit #2. Getting rid of the extra spatulas in your kitchen is all well and fine, but it really isn’t motivating on its own. If your ultimate goal is to have a tidier kitchen so that it takes less time to clean, then focus on that! Looking forwarding to having a few extra minutes in the evening after dinner to enjoy a cup of tea will keep you moving forward.

    5.MY NOTES – Break down the goal into doable tasks
    This is the ‘meat’ of the five-step organization plan. The step-by-step that will get you on the journey and keep you moving forward. Sometimes by itself, the goal can seem overwhelming. To clean out the entire garage? That’s a lot! But break it down into small doable pieces. Maybe one weekend a month, you focus on one side of the garage. Four weekends later, you are done with the space! Is your inbox just overflowing with messages you automatically delete? Make a promise to yourself to start opening them instead, and clicking that “Unsubscribe” button. It is a small investment of time that will pay off in the very near future.

    If you want to take your organization to the next level, I invite you to take advantage of the Complete Personal Planner in my Etsy shop. It has all kinds of checklists, planners, and tracking pages!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the top three tricks to stay organized?

    While there are no shortcuts to getting yourself organized, there are a few tricks I can pass along. Among the first steps to getting organized:

    1. Don’t get discouraged if you have setbacks. Evaluate what went “sideways”, adjust, and move forward!
    2. Don’t do it by yourself. If you live with at least one other human being, you will need their active participation to make this happen.
    3. Stop shopping

    What are the five rules to getting organized?

    The short and sweet version:

    1. Understand that this is a journey and not a destination
    2. Stop shopping (I know I’ve said it several times, but it bears repeating – stop adding to the clutter!)
    3. Declutter before organizing
    4. Reward yourself for small achievements
    5. Appreciate your progress

    What are the best three tools to stay organized?

    You’re ready to take the first steps to getting organized but you’ve not even sure what you need to have available. It may sound overly simple but the three best tools in your toolbox are:

    1. A personal planner (paper or electronic)
    2. A goal
    3. A plan

    You may also be interested in…

    Subscribe for library access!

    After you complete your worksheet,
    email it to me at touchoforganized@yahoo.com!

    organization worksheet