Setting yourself a time frame for achieving your goal helps to concentrate the mind. If you say, for example, ‘By Christmas I will have …? or, ‘In three years? time I will be …?, it may prompt you to set things in motion. Again, be realistic about how long it will take, so that you do not set yourself up for failure.
View larger imageFigure 31 Case illustration ? possible SMART goals for JodiLong description
View larger imageFigure 32 Case illustration ? possible SMART goals for ShaunaLong descriptionBelow are two goals that are not very SMART. How might you rewrite them more SMARTly?
Your own answers will have depended on how you interpreted the question, but see how they compare with our suggestions that follow.
The person wanting more balance in their life might have written:
‘By the end of the summer holiday I will have …
The person wanting a career with people might have written:
‘By Christmas I will have talked to a youth worker and a social worker to find out …
You can see that writing SMART goals helps you clarify your ideas. They also continue the process of breaking down the goals into smaller steps. The person intending to get their life in balance noted a number of contributory activities that would allow her/him to get there, as did the person intending to work with people in some capacity. When you get to a stage where you think, ‘Yes, I can manage that bit right now?, you are ready to get started on moving towards your goal.
Now rewrite the goals that you identified in Activity 44 in a SMART format.
‘By [insert date], I will have done/I will be able to ….?
We cannot give you direct feedback on your own outcomes, but you could discuss them with friends, family or other students on the unit whom you are in touch with.
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