At the beginning of every semester, I always like to set goals that are realistic and attainable. It keeps me consistent in my responsibilities and ensures that I prioritize both my academic and social life. Especially when it comes to university, there is a vast amount of content, and the pace can seem faster than in high school, so it's crucial to adopt a goal-oriented mindset to stay focused on your tasks. Read here to find out how you can best stick to your goals during the semester. 

I’ll be going through SMART goals. This is the technique I would recommend you follow if you want to adopt consistent goals and good habits! 

What are SMART goals? 

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based.

By setting it up in this way, it helps ensure that your goals are reachable within a certain time frame. This method also eliminates any distractions or irrelevant work that can get in the way. Instead, it makes it easier to track progress.

I break down each part that makes up SMART goals.

S- specific 

It’s essential to determine exactly what you want to accomplish and the specific actions you will take to achieve it. Really think about the mission statement for your goal. By doing so, you should be able to answer the following: 

Who needs to be involved to achieve the goal? 

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

When will you generally achieve this goal? 

Where will you be pursuing this goal, if location or events are relevant? 

Why are you pursuing this goal? 

M-measurable 

What exact metrics will you implement to track your progress and know when you have succeeded? By doing so, this makes the goal more tangible, as you can measure your progress and how far you have come. For example, if your goal will take an extended period, such as months, it is essential to set specific milestones and outline what you want to accomplish by each one.  To track a project's success or identify areas for rework, it is essential to set deadlines or measurable objectives. 

A- achievable 

It's essential to ask yourself if your goal is achievable and if you have the necessary resources to accomplish it. Your goal must be something that you want and that you can make attainable. At this stage, you are required to adjust your attitude and develop new skills that can help you support your journey in reaching your goals. Your goal is structured to motivate you, so think about how you can accomplish it, what skills you’ll need, and what it takes to achieve them. 

R- relevant 

How are the goals you're setting relevant to yourself? How do they align with your broader goals, and why is the outcome you aim for important to you? It is essential that the goals you set align with your overall purpose and broader objectives. This is what makes the goal you are pursuing more motivating, and you’ll be able to place greater value on it

T- time-based 

Goals require consistency and set dates to ensure progress and achievement. These days, everyone likes to have a list of goals they want to achieve. But the problem is that they have no direction or idea of when they want to accomplish them. That’s why it’s really important to provide a target date. You need to ask yourself specific questions about the goal you plan to pursue and the exact dates by which you will complete it. If the goal is going to take a few months to complete, setting expectations on what you will complete halfway will be useful!

Final words

Goals may seem easy to set, but when actually starting them, it may be tricky. That’s why I recommend following the SMART goal framework! It can really help you organize the goal you want to achieve, as well as set realistic expectations. Regardless of the size of your goal, whether small or large, follow this guide to tackle it effectively. Goodluck!