How to Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals: A Guide for Christian Women
We set goals to achieve a specific outcome in the future. One common aspiration is to live our best life. Christian women also have aspirations they want to accomplish in life. However, studies have shown that the majority of people who set goals fail to achieve them, and this is largely due to the fact that they do not write them down. In fact, only 1% of people write down their goals. This is where goal-setting techniques come in, and in this blog, we will be exploring the popular S.M.A.R.T goal-setting framework.
An important part of goal setting for Christian women is recognizing that we do in life is only possible with the help of God, and we must strive to live our lives in accordance with His will. The Bible tells us to "commit our plans to the Lord and He will establish them" (Proverbs 16:3). Therefore, it is important to include God in our goal-setting and planning journey. As you set aside time to plan side-by-side with God you can use widely known principles to help you.
The S.M.A.R.T framework stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Actionable
Relevant
Time-bound
Let’s explore each of these elements in more detail.
Specific goals are clear on what defines success. You must be clear on the desired outcome, for example, a more healthy lifestyle. The more specific and detailed you are on what success looks like, the easier it will be to develop a plan to bring your goals to life.
Making your goals measurable is another way to ensure success. When your goals are measurable, you can see the progress you are making along the way. For instance, if your goal is to achieve a more healthy lifestyle, you can measure your progress by tracking your weight loss or gain, meals you eat at home vs dining out, or what you’ve added or eliminated from your diet, such as more water or zero-sugar.
Without intentional actions, your goals will never be accomplished. Having a step-by-step action plan to achieve your desired result will help you feel a sense of accomplishment. Checking each step off your plan will give you reason to celebrate those wins along the way. Making your goals fun will also make your target more attractive. One way to have fun with your achievement is tracking your progress in your planner.
Your goals must be relevant to your lifestyle, values, and the overall vision you have for your life. This is important because you want to be using your time to work on things that matter to you. By linking your goals to your big vision to live your best life, you can make a healthy lifestyle more relevant. You can use your Good Success Planner to ensure your goals are linked to what’s relevant for you as a christian woman.
Let's face it, everyone gets twenty-four hours in a day. All the more reason for us to use it wisely. Putting a timeframe to your goals is a necessary element for overall goal-setting we’ve been discussed here. Having a deadline or end date for your goals can be a huge motivator. It forces you to prioritize actions the right time. One great reminder for christian women is having a time for every thing. So while you work stay connected to God and include time rest, refresh and reflect.
To put all of these elements together, let's consider an example of a S.M.A.R.T goal: "Read one business book per month in 2023."
With this goal, let’s imagine your big life vision is to live your best life. You believe upskilling is one way to open more professional opportunities and increase your earning capacity. The goal is specific enough so that it’s clear what success looks like. At the end of 2023, you would have completed reading 12 books. One step of your actionable plan may be culling a list of 12 business books you’ll read this year. Completing one book each month allows you to measure, track and celebrate your progress.
You have a greater chance of achieving your goals by writing them down. It’s the first step toward success. Using the S.M.A.R.T goal-setting framework can help you to be more intentional and effective in our goal-setting process. By planning with God, you can have an even greater sense of direction and purpose in your lives.
Have you written your goals for 2023? The Good Success Planner is designed for Christian women and will provide you with the tools to build your life in succinct with the One who gave you your dreams.