Setting Goals

Setting goals is an important part of designing and building your future. People who set goals are much more likely to achieve them.

Aspirations vs goals

The difference between an aspiration and a goal is action. We all have many aspirations (also called desires or dreams) that we want to reach but are not ready to take action on. At the level of an aspiration, you know what you want but likely have not thought about how to make that happen, the steps you need to take, and the outcome. At the level of aspiration, there is no commitment or plan. When an aspiration becomes a goal, it moves from a dream or desire to a plan of action.

Aspiration: what you want to achieve or have
Goal: what you will do and achieve

Types of goals

You will create goals for different things you want to achieve throughout your life. Sometimes, your goals will be revisions of a habit you have or will focus on building a healthy habit (behavioral goals). These goals are ongoing and need constant attention to become a reality. With most goals, you will usually have a goal you want to achieve by a specific timeframe, age, or date. These can be short-term (to be done within a day, days, or weeks), midterm (to be done over weeks or months), or longer-term (to be done over months or even years). As you think about what you want to accomplish, think about when you want to (and can) achieve the goal.

How to write a goal statement

A goal statement is a 1-2 sentence statement that captures what you will achieve and the actions you will take. Goal statements contain important specific information that will help you monitor your progress.

Many people recommend using the acronym SMART to set goals.  A SMART goal is:

• Specific: with details that outline what you will do and achieve
• Measurable:  includes information that allows you to decide how you are doing quickly
• Achievable: can be accomplished given your current lifestyle, knowledge, and resources
• Relevant: makes sense and fits in with your overall life plans, values, and beliefs
• Time-bound: has a clear time frame

A goal statement might follow this format:      I will GOAL by DATE/TIMEFRAME by ACTIONS.

Examples:

• I will graduate with my Bachelor of Science degree by May 2028, taking 15 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 1 summer or winter class each year. I will make sure I am on track by seeking help from my advisor so that all classes count, from my faculty during office hours, and from tutoring services to ensure I pass each class. I will reevaluate this goal at the end of each semester and adjust it as needed.
• I will build experience in the technology field by completing an internship over the next 18 months. To do this, I will meet with my career counselor, complete a resume, apply for at least 10 internships each semester, and seek recommendations from faculty I’ve worked with. I will evaluate my progress toward my goal with my career counselor monthly and use recommended resources.
• I will save $1000 before the end of this year by saving 50% of each paycheck and considering purchases carefully before I make them. I will look at my progress each week on Sunday and decide what actions to take to make saving possible.

Monitoring your goals

Along with your goal statement, you want to decide when and how you will measure your progress with progress checks where you reflect on your goals, what you’ve done, and what you need to do. Schedule progress checks based on your goal’s timeline- for short-term goals, you could check your progress every day or every week, and for longer-term goals, you might check your progress each week, month, or semester. During a progress check, look at your goal statement, decide if it still makes sense for you, and see where you are in reaching the goal.

Adjusting your goals

You may need to adjust your goals, including the target (what you’re measuring, timeline, or other details. When you realize a goal no longer works for you, consider the SMART areas and adjust the statement to fit your life as it is- and then keep working towards the goal. Sometimes, your goal is no longer relevant; if a goal becomes irrelevant, it is ok for it to go back to being an aspiration. You can always add things back to your goal list if things change again.