Put Your Dreams Within Reach

Set yourself up for success with SMART goals.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

This is the third part of an unofficial series to help you kickstart 2026. You don’t have to have ready Part 1 (Reflections 2025) or Part 2 (Intentions) for this to apply. However, doing so will make this exercise a hell of a lot easier.

Not that it’s especially hard to begin with. Still, if you’re like me and haven’t had luck with SMART goals before, or are new to them, doing the groundwork beforehand makes the process clearer.

What Are SMART Goals?

You’ve probably come across the term before, or maybe even tried them in the past. I like to think of a well-crafted SMART goal as a reliable map to get to where I want to go.

Below is the acronym breakdown.

• Specific: A goal doesn’t need to necessarily start out super detailed. But you need to be able to clearly define it, including the why.

• Measurable: Progress needs to be measurable. This means defining targets and milestones to keep you motivated.

• Achievable: The goal must be attainable and realistic. Make sure it’s something you believe you can accomplish. If you don’t honestly see yourself succeeding, you’re more likely to give up.

• Relevant: The goal should matter to you and align with broader values. Your goal needs to be relevant to you personally.

• Time-bound: Decide on a realistic timeline for when the goal should be achieved. This adds urgency as well as helps to prioritize tasks and provide focus.

Why Set SMART Goals?

When done properly, this framework significantly enhances the goal-setting process, making it easier to achieve what you set out to do. SMART goals provide a clear focus and direction, boost motivation and hold you accountable.

Aside from the practicalities, I also find that going through this exercise quiets that pesky ole self-doubt. Seeing that there is a thought out, reasonable and do-able plan really dials up the confidence level.

That’s where many of us truly fail. We talk ourselves out of things before even trying. But if you can make it work on paper, then you can manifest it. If you can’t work it out, then there’s rethinking to do.

How to Set Smarter SMART Goals

I don’t know about you, but I’ve tried many a different SMART Goal worksheet only to forget about it or give up confused. In my experience, they were too simple, allowing me to get away with basic answers and thus not encourage me to make an actual plan. And none of them offered any prep work.

The free ones anyway. Maybe theres a workshop or something that does it better.

Well, while I was taking my coaching certification course, I decided to improve on the models. Hence, why I prefaced this post with Part 1 (Reflections 2025) and Part 2 (Intentions).

Next, I tackled the format itself. My SMART Goal Worksheet is designed to clarify the goal, identify the steps to achieve it and track progress.

Here is the link to a FREE pdf download on Ko-fi. (no additional purhase or sign-ups for anything required)

And here is an example of a completed one. I used one of my own real-life goals from the Intentions exercise. (Sorry about my horrendous, neurospicy handwriting. But remember the magic of “See it. Write It. Speak It.”)

Important Tips

• Timeline: If you already have a set target date, enter that and then reverse-schedule your Key Steps. Otherwise, like I did here, you can set the goal completion date after settling on the individual milestones. Above all, make sure the timing is realistically manageable.

• Flexibility: Remember you are in control of all of this. So, when life inevitably throws a wrench into the machine, make adjustments. Ideally, you’re going to learn new things along the way. So, changes should be expected.

• Chunking: Any step that seems daunting or overwhelming can be broken down into its own SMART Goal. Don’t let your brain outsmart you.

• BELIEVE: The worksheet is designed to aid with the practicalities of achieving your goals. But the one thing that can derail all your efforts is a lack of belief. I don’t know of any worksheet that’s gonna help with that. What works for me is making sure my entries are believable TO ME.

• Visibility: Keep the completed form somewhere you’ll see regularly. This will help burn it into your subconscious like vision board. Yeah, and you could make one of those to go along with it. At the very least, pulling together some visuals will get your creative juices flowing.

• Reinforcement: As a former dog trainer, I’m a huge fan of positive reinforcement. Don’t simply track your progress, but give yourself tangible rewards for reaching milestones. In fact, I’m going to give myself a coffee break just for filling out the worksheet. brb…

Your Dreams Await

There you have it! Setting SMART goals should bring clarity and motivation. Think of it as crafting a treasure map where each X marks a step toward your dreams.

Remember, the journey isn’t a sprint but a marathon. Pace yourself. Make the process enjoyable. Embrace the bumps along the way and celebrate navigating challenges because that’s where the real learning happens.

Tell Me

How will you tackle 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments.

And if you found this helpful, please share it! Your voice can inspire others to reach for toward their own stars.

Now grab your worksheet and let’s make 2026 amazing!

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