Set Your Goals

When setting personal goals, being specific is the key. For example, just challenging yourself to learn something new is too general and not specific. You have got no way of tracking your progress, and there is no specific outcome. To put it bluntly if your goals are not specific, you are not going to achieve anything.

Now the Theory:

Every SMART goal needs to have these elements:

1. Specific. The goal should have a clear, highly-specific endpoint. If your goal is too vague, it won’t be SMART.
2. Measurable. You need to be able to accurately track your progress, so you can judge when a goal will be met.
3. Attainable. Of course, setting a goal that’s too ambitious will see you struggle to achieve it. This will sap at your motivation, both now and in the future.
4. Relevant. The goal you pick should be pertinent to your chosen field, or should benefit you directly.
5. Time-Bound. Finally, setting a timeframe for your goal helps quantify it further, and helps keep your focus on track.

Theory is of no use unless it is put into practice.