SMART goals examples: 15 templates you can copy
A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Instead of "get fit", you write "Run 5 km without stopping by December 15, training three times a week". Below are fifteen filled-in examples, a quick checklist and the common mistakes that make SMART goals unhelpful.
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What does SMART stand for?
The acronym comes from a 1981 article by George T. Doran in Management Review, "There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management's goals and objectives", as described on Wikipedia: SMART criteria. The meaning of each letter varies by author, and the table below uses the version most people use today.
| Letter | Question to ask | Weak | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | What exactly will I do or reach? | Be healthier | Walk 8,000 steps a day |
| Measurable | How will I know? | Save some money | Save 1,200 |
| Achievable | Is it possible with my time and means? | Run a marathon next week | Run 5 km in 12 weeks |
| Relevant | Do I care and does it fit my life? | A goal chosen by others | A goal tied to my reason |
| Time-bound | By when? | Someday | By March 31 |
What are some SMART goals examples?
Each example has a number, a date and a rhythm.
| Area | SMART goal |
|---|---|
| Fitness | Run 5 km without stopping by December 15 by training three times a week. |
| Fitness | Do 10 push-ups in a row by the end of March with four short sets, three days a week. |
| Money | Save 1,800 by June 30 by moving 75 to savings every payday. |
| Money | Reduce monthly food delivery spending from 220 to 120 by the end of next quarter. |
| Work | Complete the project management certification by August 31 by studying 45 minutes on four weekdays. |
| Work | Give three internal presentations by the end of the year to build visibility. |
| Study | Raise my practice test average from 62 to 75 percent in eight weeks. |
| Study | Learn 600 new words in Spanish in 100 days, six words a day. |
| Writing | Write a 30,000-word draft by the end of the quarter, 350 words on five days a week. |
| Health | Sleep at least seven hours on five nights a week for 12 weeks. |
| Health | Cook at home five nights a week through the summer. |
| Home | Declutter three rooms by the end of the month, one shelf a day. |
| Career change | Apply for 30 roles and attend six interviews by November 30. |
| Relationships | Call my parents every Sunday for the next six months. |
| Creative | Publish one short video a week for 20 weeks. |
How do I write a SMART goal in four steps?
You can do this in ten minutes.
- Write the plain wish in one line: "I want to save more."
- Add the number: "I want to save 1,800."
- Add the date and rhythm: "by June 30, by moving 75 each payday."
- Check each letter with the table. Fix the weakest one.
How do I check whether a goal is achievable?
Do the arithmetic backward. Saving 1,800 by June 30 from today is about 36 weeks if you start in October, which means 50 per week, or 100 every two weeks. If your free money after bills is 40 a week, the goal as written is not achievable and needs a later date or a lower figure.
For skill goals, use the pace of a beginner, not an expert. A realistic first 5 km run for someone starting from zero takes about 8 to 12 weeks with three sessions a week. A stretch is good, an impossible target is not.
What are the limits of SMART goals?
SMART is a checklist for writing, not a plan.
- It does not tell you the daily action. You still need a routine.
- It can push people toward easy, measurable goals while ignoring harder ones that matter.
- It does not include a review step.
- Some goals, such as learning or creative work, are better measured by effort than by outcome.
How do I go from a SMART goal to a daily plan?
Break the goal into monthly checkpoints, choose a weekly rhythm and write the smallest daily action. Review weekly. The 6-month goal plan guide shows this for a goal of six months, and the 90-day goals guide does the same for 13 weeks.
Should I use SMART for every goal?
Use it whenever the goal has a clear end. For open-ended aims, such as "be a better listener", define a measurable behavior instead: "ask two follow-up questions in each conversation this week". The point is a statement another person could check.
How do I turn a vague goal into a SMART one?
Work through three before-and-after rewrites. "Get better at my job" becomes "Complete two advanced Excel courses and build a reporting dashboard for my team by September 30." "Eat healthier" becomes "Cook dinner at home five nights a week and eat vegetables with two meals a day through December." "Save money" becomes "Save 2,400 by March 31 by moving 100 every Friday."
Each rewrite added a number, a date and an action you can see. If you struggle to add one of the three, you probably do not yet know what you want, and the next step is a small experiment before committing to a date.
What is a good SMART goal for a student or a beginner?
Choose one subject and one habit. "Raise my chemistry quiz average from 60 to 75 percent by December 20 by solving 10 practice problems on four weekdays and reviewing mistakes on Sunday." Beginners benefit from process goals like the weekly problems because they control the process but not the exam result. Measure both: process numbers weekly and the quiz average monthly.
Can M6 hold a SMART goal?
M6 asks for what you want to change in six months, builds a 180-day route of six chapters with milestones that have target dates, and records measurements against targets. It suits goals with a number and a date, which is the SMART format. A paper version of the same plan works equally well.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SMART goal example?
Run 5 km without stopping by December 15 by training three times a week. It is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and has a date.
What does SMART stand for in goal setting?
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Some versions use Attainable, Realistic or Timely for some letters.
Who created SMART goals?
George T. Doran published the original SMART formulation in 1981 in Management Review.
Are SMART goals good for personal life?
Yes, for goals with a clear end such as saving, fitness or study. For open-ended aims, define a measurable behavior.
How many SMART goals should I set?
One main goal and at most two supporting ones. More dilutes your attention.