SMART goals
Source: https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/key-study-skills/time-management/smart-goals/ Parent: https://learningessentials.auckland.ac.nz/key-study-skills/
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SMART goals
- Analysing questions
- Critical thinking
- Academic arguments
- Habits of mind
- Active learning
- Reflection and introspection
- Time management
- SMART goals
- Pomodoro technique
- Scheduling your semester
- Staying motivated
- Dealing with procrastination
- Prioritising your tasks
- Note-taking
- Digital note-taking
- Cornell note-taking method
- Charting note-taking method
- Mind mapping
Learn how to set SMART goals to succeed at university and beyond.
Tētōia,tēhaumatia
Nothing can be achieved without a plan of attack
Why set goals?
Goals are a great way to stay focused and work out what’s important. Having long-term and short-term goals can help you be more productive and get more out of your time at university.
Goals can be big or small, long-term or short-term.
- Short term (Today, this week, this month) – Finish an essay; get a part-time job.
- Mid-term (This semester or year) – Improve GPA; get an internship.
- Long-term (1-5 years) – Finish your degree; post-graduate study; graduate programme; travel.
Start with ideas
Some examples of goals might include:
- Keep on top of the readings each week.
- Get accepted into Law School at the end of this year.
- Become fitter.
- Get a part-time job.
Below are some ideas to help you find inspiration:
- Check out Careers Development and Employability Services (CDES).
- Talk to your peers, family, and friends.
- Join a club, society or association.
- Explore options to study abroad with 360 Auckland Abroad.
- Learn about leadership and volunteering.
Once you know what you want to achieve, turn your idea into a SMART goal.
What’s a SMART goal?
Using the SMART goal system will help you to set concrete, measurable goals:
- Specific: Add specific details so you know what you’re aiming for.
- Measurable: Make sure you know if you have achieved your goal or not.
- Achievable: Use your goal to stretch yourself, but not so much that you feel overwhelmed and give up. Is the goal realistic?
- Relevant: Make your goal meaningful. Why is it worthwhile? What are the benefits of achieving it?
- Timely: Give yourself a deadline to complete the goal.
Examples
Once you have some concrete goals, you can start breaking them down into smaller, more achievable steps.
Short-term, modest goals: I will do all my readings every week.
Is it SMART?
Specific: Every Sunday, I will make a list of readings and schedule time to complete them.
Measurable: I know how much I have to read.
Achievable: I can tick off each reading as I do it.
Relevant:The assigned readings are based on a reasonable workload expectation.
Timely: Every week.
Mid to long-term goal: Get into Law School at the end of this year.
Is it SMART?
Specific: I’m accepted into Law
Measurable: I’m either accepted or rejected.
Achievable: Pass LAW 121G and LAW 131. GPA of B+ to A- for all papers.
Relevant: I want to study law so I can influence policy and create change in the future.
Timely: End of this year.
Try it yourself
Think of something you would like to do or a goal you would like to achieve. Use this worksheet, Setting SMART Goals, to turn that idea into a SMART goal.
Related topics
Workshops
See all available workshops.
Short on time? Watch a video on:
- Critical thinking – 6:01
- Time management – 5:15
- Note-taking – 5:39
Have any questions?