S.M.A.R.T. Goals are important for Planning a Life Project

Diana Irais Ray
May 11
2 min read

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

To achieve our aspirations and bring about change in our lives, we must have a project or purpose that motivates us to pursue it, combining both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

These are the efforts we must make to reach our goal, regardless of whether we find them enjoyable or challenging.

EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION

These are the rewards we will receive upon reaching our goal. The acronym S.M.A.R.T (in English) translates to:

S = Specific

M = Measurable

A = Attainable

R = Relevant

T = time bound

Quarterly Organization and Planning

Methodology for planning objectives that are linked to our life project.

1.- QUARTERLY OBJECTIVES: To avoid the common pitfall of neglecting our New Year's resolutions, we will establish four primary objectives to focus on throughout the year. Each quarter, we will prioritize one objective, dedicating more energy and time to it while addressing the others with less intensity, allowing us to better prioritize our efforts.

APPLY PARKINSON'S LAW!

“The duration of a task extends according to the time available for its completion.”

Create a sense of urgency (if you can finish a task before its deadline, reduce the time allotted to it)
Break your study schedule according to Parkinson's Law (for instance, study from Monday to Friday, taking weekends off)

This suggests that if we have more time to finish a task, we will take longer due to a lack of urgency that prompts immediate action (leading to procrastination). Therefore, compressing the timeframe from one year to three months alters the dynamics of this law in our understanding.

2.- PROJECTS / GOALS: For significant goals like “Achieve a 9.5 grade in my upcoming semester, while avoiding perfectionism,” it’s clear that we need to develop various components to work on. When combined, these components will help us reach our overall goal.

These components are referred to as “PROJECTS” or “GOALS,” and multiple projects can stem from each objective. They serve as manageable steps or sections to complete, each smaller than the overarching objective:

3.- ACTION PLANS: Regular actions we must undertake to accomplish our quarterly objectives:

To achieve a 9.5:

ESTABLISH A HABIT (STUDY AT LEAST 15 MINUTES DAILY).
ORGANIZE TOPICS USING GUIDES, DESIGNATING PRIORITY, LEARNING STAGE, AND RETENTION RATE.
CLARIFY ALL MY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SUBJECT AND THE TOPICS TO BE STUDIED.
MAINTAIN A NOTEBOOK FOR ERRORS ALONG WITH APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS.

This serves as a practical example to assist you in formulating your action plans. Remember, these should be tailored to your learning style, available time, and the goals you wish to achieve.

4.- TASKS: These are used to break down different sections that need to be finalized based on the complexity of the project or objective. The key distinction is that they are less frequent and more specific tasks. Referring back to the example of achieving a 9.5 grade:

Execute the environmental sustainability project.
Investigate five highly effective study techniques and test them for compatibility with my learning style.
Coordinate with the team to strategize research for a school event.