How to Write Better Goals

I remember a technique I used to employ anytime I’d have to write a paper in high school: If my vocabulary wasn’t elite enough, I’d just pull out the old thesaurus. Surely one word would substitute for another without altering the meaning of the text, right?

That kind of thinking turns a wise man into a wise guy.

Words that we think are interchangeable, aren’t necessarily so. Such is the case for the terms goal and objective. A goal is a broad, sweeping statement that conveys a desired outcome:

“I want to lose weight.”

“I want to build muscle.”

“I want to sleep better at night.”

Objectives, on the other hand, are more detailed in nature. They identify the means by which a person will make progress toward a goal:

“I will start taking a walk after dinner.”

“I will begin a strength training program.”

“I will get to bed earlier.”

The problem is that our objectives are often underdeveloped. Strong objectives contain five elements as indicated by the acronym “SMART.” They should be Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Using the examples listed above, a SMART objective would read like this:

“By the end of the month, I will be taking a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood after dinner three times a week.”

“Within the next three days, I will look up the contact information for three personal trainers in the area.”

“Beginning tomorrow, I will turn off the television by 9 pm on at least five nights of the week.”

Notice that I’ve built flexibility into each objective. Obstacles are bound to arise, so a margin of grace can help us to stay on track. If I manage to walk on Monday and Wednesday but not Friday, perhaps I can walk on Saturday morning. If I can’t locate contact info for three personal trainers all at once, then I can look up one per day. If my favorite TV show doesn’t begin until 9 pm, then I can choose that night as one of my free nights.

While SMART “goals” are technically objectives, I usually refer to them as goals anyway for clarity’s sake. Knowing the distinction, however, can help us first develop a broad, inspirational goal, and then break it down into clear, actionable steps. Health coaching can help you design goals and find a clear path forward. Schedule a free call to learn more.