SMART Goals Examples for Time Management & Productivity

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We all have ambitions, aspirations, and goals that we wish to obtain in life. But we hardly take a scientific strategy in direction of them. Do that out of each hundred folks, solely twenty set their objectives, and from these twenty, solely eight are in a position to accomplish what they plan for?

The idea of SMART objectives may be utilized to Time Management and Productivity and assist with important enhancements in these areas.

(Side notice: One of the most effective methods to get what you need from life is to create and set SMART objectives. To get began, take a look at this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step course of that may assist you set efficient SMART objectives.)

What Are SMART Goals?

“SMART Goals” has turn out to be a standard buzzword over the previous years, and why shouldn’t it? After all, objective setting is likely one of the greatest and most useful methods to attain what you need in life. SMART objectives lay out a transparent roadmap, which you’ll observe to succeed in your goal.

An individual who doesn’t have a course will most likely get nowhere. But setting SMART objectives can provide you a transparent imaginative and prescient of your targets and enhance your possibilities of reaching them.

Goals and SMART Goals – The Difference

A correct objective is narrowed down and clearly outlined. For occasion, take this clichéd objective, “I want to be rich.” This sentence may be very obscure and goes in all instructions. Most importantly, it doesn’t specify or measure what “rich” is. An individual with $10,000 of their financial savings account would possibly think about $100,000 as wealthy, however an individual with $100,000 would possibly wish to turn out to be a millionaire to really feel wealthy.

Similarly, suppose an individual makes $2,000 in month-to-month wages and goals to succeed in 1,000,000 {dollars}. In that case, they should think about their choices to see whether it is even attainable and if such an enormous objective is related to them. They additionally want to know how a lot time it would take.

You can’t design a plan of motion if you happen to aren’t clear about what you wish to obtain. This is the place SMART objectives come into play. SMART is an acronym that stands for:

Let us have a look at every one in additional element.

Specific

Specifying your objectives will significantly enhance your possibilities of reaching them. Whenever you might be setting a objective, begin by asking 5 “W” questions:

Specifying a objective means that you can see and measure your progress and to know when you will have achieved this objective. The extra narrowed down a objective is, the better it’s to determine and obtain it.

Measurable

Every objective must have some standards to measure it in opposition to. Without a criterion, there is no such thing as a strategy to observe your progress in direction of the objective, which implies you’ll by no means know the place you might be standing or how far more effort it’s a must to put in. There are three essential questions that you should use to make your objective measurable:

Attainable

Your objectives should problem you and additional push your limits, however they need to not be unimaginable. For occasion, say your goal is to drop extra pounds, and also you set a objective to lose 20 kilos in two weeks. This shouldn’t be solely difficult, however it isn’t even safely attainable.

Or take the individual with a $2,000 month-to-month wage aiming to avoid wasting up 1,000,000 {dollars}. This can also be not too life like. Instead, that individual can set smaller, extra attainable objectives, goal to make investments, after which goal for the million when it’s extra attainable.

At this stage of objective setting, you’ll ask your self when you have the assets wanted to achieve the objective that you’re setting? If not, what are you lacking, and how are you going to fill within the lacking components?

Relevant

The objective must have significance in your life. It also needs to be aligned with different objectives that you simply wish to obtain. You will certainly require some help and assist when reaching a objective. But keep in mind to keep up management and never let go of possession for the objective.

When setting a objective, ask your self the next inquiries to confirm if the objective is related to you.

1. Is the objective definitely worth the effort?
2. Is it the suitable time to begin engaged on the objective?
3. Is it aligned with different goals you might be engaged on or making an attempt to attain?

With these questions answered, you’ll perceive how related and essential the objective is to you.

Time-Bound

If your objective doesn’t have a deadline, you’ll by no means be capable of obtain it. It is okay to increase deadlines often, however you could set a timeline for reaching your objective. With a deadline in place, the objective will stay a precedence and never permit different each day duties to hinder progress.

Sometimes, it’s higher to interrupt down a much bigger objective into smaller objectives and set deadlines for every job. A number of questions which you can ask your self for timing a objective are:

This Ultimate Guide to SMART Goals discusses SMART objectives in additional element and a extra detailed rationalization of SMART objectives and can assist you set your sensible objective with easy-to-follow steps.

Why SMART Goals Are Important for Time Management and Productivity

Time administration and productiveness are abilities that take time to be taught and grasp. If your goals usually are not within the appropriate order, you’ll have issue mastering these abilities.

Throughout your journey of enhancing your time administration and productiveness abilities, you will have to determine and work on areas that want enchancment. Some benefits of setting SMART objectives in these areas are:

7 SMART Goals Examples for Time Management & Productivity

1. To scale back the time it takes me to implement formulation in Excel from six hours to a few hours by the thirtieth of subsequent month. I’ll use the MS Excel Guide to be taught new methodologies for method implementation.

Specific: Three hours to finish method implementation

Measurable: The progress may be measured with the lowering time and the distinction from the preliminary six hours.

Attainable: Using assets to be taught extra about method utility, and by working towards what I’ve discovered, I could make this objective attainable

Relevant: If I’m spending six out of eight hours of my workday implementing formulation, greater than three-quarters of my day is gone. Reducing the time to half will permit me additional time for different actions.

Time-Bound: Since I’ve set a deadline for this objective, I do know that I’ve to scale back my method implementing time to a few hours by the tip of subsequent month.

2. Build a behavior of arriving to work early by getting up an hour earlier by the tip of the month. I’ll construct this behavior by pushing again my alarm by fifteen minutes each week.

Specific: I wish to be at work not less than an hour earlier than what I’m doing now.

Measurable: The progress may be measured by checking what number of minutes after my deliberate time I’m arriving.

Attainable: Probably one of the crucial attainable objectives that I can set for myself. It doesn’t contain many individuals, and I’ve additionally given myself a transitional interval of 1 month to construct the behavior.

Relevant: This objective is essential to me as a result of by arriving early, I can accomplish extra duties and get extra work executed all through the day

Time-Bound: I have set a deadline for this objective, and I do know the place I ought to be standing on the finish of every week.

3. I usually sit not less than two hours late to finish all duties. I wish to go away on time to spend time with my household. I’ll enhance my time administration abilities by taking a web based course for the subsequent month to carry work-life steadiness into my life. I’ll apply what I be taught and plan to go away on time by the tip of the course.

Specific: I want to go away on the finish of my shift and keep away from late sittings. 

Measurable: I can measure my progress by evaluating what number of late sittings I’m doing and the way late I’m leaving work.

Attainable: This objective is attainable as a result of I plan to tackle a course for time administration to handle my time higher and assist me obtain my objective.

Relevant: This objective is related for me as a result of I wish to take pleasure in my life exterior of labor.

Time-Bound: I’ve set a deadline for this objective. As the course progresses, I can progressively begin to go away earlier to get into the behavior.

4. To enhance my productiveness by dedicating 20% of my work hours to duties marked as essential. I’ll flip off all distractions throughout these hours and focus solely on the essential duties. I’ll implement this observe beginning right now and make it right into a behavior by the tip of subsequent week.

Specific: Dedicate 20% of my time to essential duties through the day. 

Measurable: I can measure my progress by evaluating how a lot time in a day I’m giving to essential duties and make changes accordingly.

Attainable: This objective is attainable because it requires me to get extra organized and requires solely dedication.

Relevant: This objective is related for me as a result of it would enhance my productiveness.

Time-Bound: I’ve set a deadline for this objective and know that I’ve to attain this by the tip of subsequent week.

5. To double the gross sales for my firm over one yr, I’ll discover ways to use social media advertisements by attending social media advertising workshops. I’ll progressively make investments as much as 30% of my revenue in social media advertising by growing 10% each month.

Specific: To double the present gross sales for the corporate

Measurable: The gross sales quantity may be measured weekly or month-to-month

Attainable: This objective is attainable as a result of I’ll be taught and apply new advertising methods

Relevant: This objective is related for my firm and me as it would assist us develop

Time-Bound: I’ve set a deadline for this objective and know that I’ve to attain this inside a yr

6. To enhance productiveness by studying to make use of and getting used to time administration instruments. I’ll be taught to make use of superior apps to handle my to-do lists, appointments, and on a regular basis duties by this week.

Specific: Learn and use apps to raised handle time and enhance productiveness.

Measurable: Productivity and time administration may be measured by watching the period of time being wasted.

Attainable: This objective is attainable as a result of I’ll be taught and use expertise to enhance myself.

Relevant: This objective will assist enhance my productiveness and is important for my private improvement.

Time-Bound: The deadline is the tip of this week.

7. To enhance the engagement of contributors throughout my displays, I’ll enhance my public talking abilities by becoming a member of a public talking membership for one yr.

Specific: Increase the engagement of contributors throughout displays

Measurable: Engagement of contributors may be measured by having displays evaluated by viewers members

Attainable: I’m already delivering displays and want to enhance them, which makes this objective attainable

Relevant: This objective will assist enhance viewers engagement, which is important for each presentation

Time-Bound: Deadline is one yr

Final Thoughts on SMART Goals for Time Management and Productivity

Setting SMART objectives for time administration and productiveness may be a small step, however it’s a large leap for honing your abilities. Start by writing down your objectives, after which break them into smaller duties. Revisit your written objectives on daily basis to know your progress and determine areas that require enchancment.

Here is a SMART goal-setting worksheet that will help you define and doc your goals to get your self began.

Finally, if you wish to take your goal-setting efforts to the subsequent stage, take a look at this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step course of that may assist you set efficient SMART objectives.