Hey UBC,
Finals are slowly approaching us and there is no better way to conquer it than with SMART goals. Have you ever set a goal for yourself, having a vague idea of what you want to accomplish leading it to be just not enough to help you achieve success? Well, you’re just in luck because that’s where the concept of SMART goals comes in. In this blog post, we’ll explore what SMART goals are and how you can use them to crush your finals season.
So what are SMART goals?
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SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Each of these five components is an important part of setting a goal that is both effective and achievable.
Specific: A specific goal is one that is clearly defined and leaves no room for confusion. Instead of setting a general goal like “studying more,” a specific goal would be “studying for an hour a day for a specific class.” The more specific your goal, the easier it will be to create a plan to achieve it.
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Measurable: Measuring progress is essential to achieving your goals. A measurable goal includes quantifiable metrics so that you can track your progress over time. For example, a measurable goal might be “review two lecture slides before bedtime tonight”.
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Achievable: Your goal should be challenging enough to motivate you, but not so difficult that it is impossible to achieve. An achievable goal is realistic and takes into account your current abilities and resources. For example, if you don’t understand course material and don’t utilize your TAs and Prof to help you and plan to score higher on that portion on the final it would likely not be achievable.
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Relevant: A relevant goal is one that is aligned with your values, interests, and long-term objectives. It should be something that you care about and that contributes to your overall vision of success. For example, if your long-term objective is to perform well on your finals while maintaining your physical health, a relevant goal would be to create a fitness schedule that works with your study schedules in order to help meet your needs.
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Time-bound: Setting a deadline for your goal is important because it creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused. A time-bound goal includes a specific date or timeline for completion. For example, “complete this module by the end of tomorrow” is a time-bound goal.
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So now that we know what SMART goals are, how do we use them?
Now that you understand the components of SMART goals, here’s a step-by-step process for using them to set and achieve your own goals:
- Identify the goal you want to achieve. Be as specific as possible, and make sure it aligns with your long-term objectives.
- Break the goal down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will help you create a plan for achieving your goal and make it less overwhelming.
- Make sure each step is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
- Track your progress as you work towards your goal. This will help you stay motivated and adjust your plan as necessary.
- Celebrate your successes along the way. Recognizing your progress will help you stay motivated and focused on achieving your ultimate objective.
In conclusion, SMART goals are a powerful tool for setting and achieving your objectives. By using the five components of SMART goals, you can create a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. This will help you create a plan, track your progress, and achieve success not only during finals season but in your everyday life as well. Good luck with finals UBC!!!!