I almost gave up on this article, the point seemed far too obvious. SMART goals are a staple in corporations and classrooms the world over these days. But if that’s the case, why do so many of us forget to apply them to everyday situations in our personal lives?
Like me, you probably start the year, month, week, or day with solid intentions to get fitter, richer, stick to a new routine, the list goes on.
The thing about vague goals is that they rarely stick, and without a clear plan, motivation fades. The inevitable happens, it’s back to the old habits.
Whenever I think back to the times in my adult life when I’ve tried to lose a few pounds, it only works when I set a target, measure progress regularly (every day works for me, although I know it’s not always recommended), and have a defined plan on how I’m going to achieve it. I’m going through it right now, in fact, hoping that it’s a permanent goodbye to the ol’ dad bod.
This is where SMART goals come in. It’s a framework that transforms wishes into meaningful actions.
It stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Set yourself up for success by creating a goal that you can visualize, track, manage, and celebrate when you achieve it!
The thing is, and this is where I think most people go wrong (myself included), SMART goals don’t have to be complicated or corporate. Keep them simple, and they work a treat for everyday life in areas such as health, happiness, and personal growth.
Let’s look at some typically vague goals and turn them SMART.
1. Fitness
How many times have I said this to myself?! “I’m gonna get in shape.” The problem is, that phrase can mean so many different things. To some, it’s about small improvements, losing a bit of weight, or being able to walk to the local shops and back without feeling tired. To others, it’s running a half-marathon.
If the goal is too broad, where on earth do you start, and how do you ensure that you don’t drift back into the same routine?
Let’s apply a simple approach to setting an everyday SMART goal…
❌ Vague goal: “I want to get in shape”
✅ Smart goal: “I’m going to walk 10,000 steps a day, for five days a week, for the next three months.”
Why it works:
- Specific: You’ve chosen, not the vague term ‘exercise’
- Measurable: 10,000 steps give you a clear yardstick
- Achievable: It’s within the realms of what a realistic target is for many adults
- Relevant: It improves fitness and energy levels without overcomplicated things
- Time-bound: A three-month timeframe is long enough to be effective without feeling endless
This might be one of several fitness SMART goals that you set for yourself, but it works for this example as a beginner goal that a typical adult could realistically meet.
2. Money
If there’s one goal on this list that falls to the wayside more than any other, it’s the old classic, “I need to save more money.” Or maybe that’s just me!
It’s a great idea in theory, but where to begin? Spending money is easier than ever. Phones have wallets, browsers remember your credit card details, and we’re bombarded with product placements across every social media channel with targeted ads at every turn. And that’s just scratching the surface.
To save money, you need a figure, a timeline, a reason, a way to track it, and a truckload of willpower. It’s no wonder so many get distracted, discouraged, and give up before any momentum is built.
❌ Vague goal: “I want to save more money.”
✅ SMART goal: “I’m going to save $200 from each paycheck and transfer it into a savings account for one year.”
Why it works:
- Specific: There is a fixed amount
- Measurable: Check the savings account and you’ll see the balance growing
- Achievable: I picked a random amount based on my own experience but it’s realistic for many individuals/households; you can increase or decrease if you prefer
- Relevant: It’s tied to improving financial stability
- Time-bound: One year is a solid and structured commitment without being forever
Instead of just ‘saving more’, you’ve now got a system. You’ll be accumulating money in your savings account and building the confidence that comes from proving you can stick to a financial plan.
3. Learning
Never in human history have opportunities to upskill been more accessible. I’m always into something, whether it’s free playlists on YouTube, expert-led mini-courses, marketplaces like Udemy, or something more formal from one of the big online platforms such as Coursera. Many are low-cost or even free.
For our purposes, let’s say you plan to travel in South America and want to learn Spanish. “I’m going to learn a bit of Spanish” is too vague to be useful, and like many beginners, enthusiasm can start to wane quickly.
❌ Vague goal: “I’m going to learn some Spanish.”
✅SMART goal: “I’m going to complete one Duolingo Spanish lesson each morning before work for 30 days.”
Why it works:
- Specific: Recognized platform chosen with a daily action
- Measurable: You’re ticking off one lesson per day and can track progress within Duolingo
- Achievable: A lesson takes less than 10 minutes
- Relevant: Byte-sized lessons build towards a larger goal
- Time-bound: 30 days is a great length for a challenge, and at the end you can set a new one
You’re not trying to become fluent overnight. Instead, a small consistent habit snowballs over time, and in a month, you’ve racked up 30 lessons and a decent knowledge base. You can then assess your current situation and create a plan for the next 30 days.
4. Wellness
This one takes me back to corporate. “I want to reduce my stress levels” is probably something we’ve all thought about at some point. A trip to the pub after work to ‘unwind’ used to do the job, but it’s not sustainable in the long term and doesn’t address the core problem.
❌ Vague goal: “I want to feel less stressed.”
✅SMART goal: “I’ll meditate for five minutes after breakfast each day for the next four weeks.”
Why it works:
Why it works:
- Specific: Meditation is an action, not just a vague way to ‘unwind’ or ‘relax’
- Measurable: Five minutes a day is clear, doable, and most likely trackable in a reward-driven app
- Achievable: Short enough not to feel overwhelming or disrupt morning routines
- Relevant: Meditation is directly linked to stress reduction
- Time-bound: Four weeks is easy to commit to, but long enough to assess how beneficial it’s been
5. Home
“I want a cleaner home.” I’ll be the first to admit, this is one we struggle with in our house. With two young kids, it’s a constant fight to keep things looking presentable.
It’s such a broad statement. Do you mean the whole house, one room, or just getting on top of the clutter? It’s overwhelming, and before you know it, our old friend procrastination turns up.
❌ Vague goal: “I want a cleaner and/or tidier home.”
✅SMART goal: “I will declutter one drawer or shelf each Saturday for the next two months.”
Why it works:
- Specific: Targeting small areas, one drawer or shelf, not the entire house
- Measurable: Progress is visible, day-by-day, week-by-week
- Achievable: It’s a small enough task so as not to be off-putting, but
- Relevant: Helps create a more organized and clutter-free home environment
- Time-bound: Two months means eight or nine clear tasks, depending when your Saturdays fall
Final Thoughts
I started using SMART goals in my everyday life a long time ago and haven’t looked back. Sure, I forget sometimes, cleaning and tidying tend to be random and opportunistic.
For most things, whether it’s fitness, finance, learning, wellness, or anything on the home front, it’s a framework that’s helped me to get clear on what I want, how I’ll do it, and when I’ll get it done. It doesn’t feel corporate, just practical, common sense.
If you aren’t using SMART goals, just take one vague thing you want to achieve and apply it. Use the examples here for inspiration and guidance. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to get the wheels in motion and maintain positive action.