Are you tired of setting goals you don’t achieve? The reason that many people don’t succeed is because they don’t know how to set effective goals. This free SMART Goals Template will show you how to set goals that you will actually achieve step-by-step.
Setting goals and creating a clear roadmap for how you’ll reach each goal increases your chances of success. It enables you to decide on a plan and prioritize your time and resources to make progress and eventually reach your goals.
When you set a goal, make sure it is SMART.
S – Specific (What will be accomplished? What actions will you take?)
M – Measurable (Can you measure the outcome?)
A – Achievable (Is your goal attainable? Do you have the necessary skills and resources?)
R – Realistic (Is your goal realistically achievable within the given time frame and with the available resources?)
T – Time-bound (Have you set a time limit?)
SMART goals have a higher chance of success since they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Every goal can be made S.M.A.R.T. and as such, has a better chance of becoming reality.
Click on the button below to convert any goal into a SMART goal.
The following SMART goal template will help you write down clear and measurable goals to work toward. Research shows that when you put your goals in writing, you will be much more likely to achieve them. Our free goal-setting template printables will help you set your goals step-by-step in writing.
SMART Goals Template with Action Steps
The PDF version is editable and you can type on it. However, if you prefer working with Excel, then select the goal-setting template Excel format. The Word version is helpful if you want to edit the template.
Click on the button below to convert any goal into a SMART goal.
SMART Goals Worksheet
Use our free printable SMART goals worksheet PDF to ensure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. The SMART goals template will help you ensure that your goal is SMART and thus increase your chances of success. If you want to work on more than one goal, then make a few copies of the printable goal sheets.
Specific
Goals that are well-defined, detailed, and clear, have a much greater chance of being reached. To make a goal specific, try to relate to the five “W” questions:
- What do I need to do?
- Where will I reach this goal?
- When will I reach the goal by?
- Who needs to be involved to achieve this goal?
- Why do I want to achieve this goal? This is important to keep you motivated and on track and to ensure that the goal is meaningful and worth your time and energy.
Example of a vague or non-specific goal: I want to lose weight.
Example of a specific goal: I want to lose 14 pounds within the next three months by eating clean food only and working out at the gym five days a week. I will feel much better about myself if I lose this weight.
Use the SMART goal sheet to answer each of these questions.
Measurable
A goal must be measurable so that you can measure your progress and determine if you are on track. You should be able to tell when you reach your goal.
Example: My goal is to lose 14 lbs and to work out five days a week.
Achievable
The goal should be challenging and require work and not be too easy. It should be attainable with some effort on your part. Ideally, your goal should require you to stretch a little outside of your comfort zone.
Take your available time, skills, and financial situation into account, and whether you can achieve the goal with reasonable effort. Don’t set goals that are too difficult or overwhelming. If your goals are too big, then break them up into mini-goals or baby steps.
Example: I know I can lose 14 lbs since I have done it before. I have also worked out 5 times a week before, so I know it is achievable.
If that sounds overwhelming, then set a goal to lose 2lbs only. When you reach that goal, you will set another goal.
Realistic
A goal must be realistically achievable within the given time frame and with your available resources.
Example: Since it works out to be about 1 lb a week which is a realistic weight loss my goal is realistic.
Timely
A goal must have a start and finish date. You must also have the time to do each of the steps you will need to take.
Example: I will start now and reach my goal in 3 months. I will exercise five times each week and lose about 1 pound each week for 3 months.
It is important that your goal is positive. You want to focus on what you want to do and not what you don’t want to do. What you focus on, increases. So when you focus on not doing something, then that will increase too.
Download the SMART goal-setting worksheet template in black and white or the color version above.
See our goal tracker and goal planner.
