Creating SMART goals for a recent high school graduate
allows them to be able to ensure success for the future
they have ahead of them. It helps create realistic expectations
for them that way when they exceed the goals that they
have created for themselves they can feel accomplished and
not discouraged. The SMART components allow them to create
an achievable goal while keeping true mentality. The very
first component requires for me to revisit it. I have so
many goals and ideas in mind that I do not get specific
on what are it that I want to do at the end of
the day. I have so many courses of actions that I think
will be best or better to create a great outcome that it
does not allow me to know what to do. Currently one
of my main stress is juggling so many things at once.
The main coping mechanism is distraction. I try and keep
myself busy as much as possible by either cleaning, going
to the gym, cooking, and doing as much as possible. I
like to keep my mind busy over things that tend to
keep me busy. I would describe the benefits of SMART
goals to a recent high school graduate , by telling them
to first set a goal a specific goal they want to achieve
by a measurable time limit to achieve the goal and make
sure its a realistic goal and make a to do list to
make sure you stay on track to reach your goal. I have
many goals but my specific goal is to get my degree
by time I turn 40 which is four years from now and
very realistic if I stay on track and don't give up. If
I had to revise my goal the SMART component that I
may have to revisit would definitely be Measurable because
college is set up to finish 4 years when you attend a
university which is still sometimes hard to do but when
you are totally online and work full time, fulltime parent
and a football parent you have to work at your own
pace. There are so many obstacles that can hold you back
whyen trying to achieve anything Stress is always a factor
because you always have to meet guidelines. However I'm
not much of a stressed person I tend to walk to the
beat of my own drum ,but if have to say my strategy
or coping skills would have to only focus on what I
can do and not over load my self with task , and
to complete everything in a timely fashion by following my
to do list. I would describe the benefit of creating SMART
Goals to a recent high school graduate soon to be going
to college as being able to become more aware of the
strengths you have in a subject. Along with improving their
self-image, and becoming more organized, opening a clear path
to what may lie ahead during their experience in college.
Someone who creates a smart goal is showing that they
are becoming more responsible, and it helps them with their
decision-making for the present and future. If I were to
use one of the components of the SMART goal it would
have to be making my goal attainable. I want to make
sure that even though I may think that the goal sounds
great. I want to make sure that I am able to achieve
the goal, and it isn't something that is too far from a
reach. One of my main stressors is not having a enough
time in a day to do the things I put on my schedule.
Although I get the things done. Every night, I feel like
I am going to bed with a headache and waking up
with that same headache from worrying about the things I
need to do. How I seem to manage things sometimes is
keeping a schedule, breaking down what I need done and
when I need this particular thing done by what day or
time. It doesn't always work but most of the time it is
achievable. I would describe the benefits of creating SMART
goals to a recent high-school graduate who is starting college
by telling this person that it is a very on point way
to set goals that works in a detailed way the goals that
are set are easily reachable. One of my own personal,
academic, or professional goals of the SMART components
might need to be revisited is measurable because I give
myself a unrealistic time frame because I want to achieve
the certain goal fast and quick. Some of my current
stressors are having time with my children and completing
my school work. Some strategies or coping skills can I
use to address that source of stress is trying to get my
school work done while the three kids are sleeping at
night even if it is just for 20 or 30 minutes or on
the weekends when my husband is home lock myself in
the bedroom with the laptop and work on my schooling
then i have time for the kids after. That is the only
thing I know for coping skills or to get my work done.
My son is a senior in high school and is about to
start college. I would explain SMART goals to him as a
way to set very specific, achievable goals in a very detailed
manner. My academic goal is to obtain my associates degree.
I find myself revisiting the time-based component of SMART.
Working full-time, being a parent, and going to school often
requires adjustments to those goals. It is a skill that I
continue to work on. I would say that my current biggest
stressor is time. Starting school is still very new to me
and I am still adjusting my time-based goals to improve
my chances of success. I also find myself continuing to
adjust to spend time with my kids which has been another
stressor. I am grateful to have their support and the support
of my other family members which is a very helpful asset
and helps to alleviate some of that stress. Music is one
of my biggest stress relievers. I have a recording studio
in my home and enjoy spending my time being creative.
SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and
time based. I would like to use my brother as an
example as he has just started college. Specific goals will
help him to be specific on what goals he wants to
achieve in what class, maybe he wants to have a certain
grade for a certain class and will have to work towards
that. Measurable is how each goal is be measured and
how far to reach the goal. Achievable – understanding what
it is needed to achieve that you have set out to do
and by being accountable to guarantee it is being achieved.
Realistic – that you are being realistic in your goal and
time frame to do it in. Time based – to keep on
track in completing your goals and not getting side lined
from completing them. One of my professional goals that I
have is to apply for a new position and I keep changing
my timeline of when I will start applying to other positions
that I need to sit down and really think it through of
when I want to do it and by applying SMART goals
it could help me to achieve it. A stressor of mine is
trying to balance everything that seems to be going on.
My husband and I want to start a family and I want
to try to find the perfect time which I know there is
no perfect time so to help get through the stress I
work out and make to do lists and try to be realistic
about it as well. Setting SMART Goals can help you stay
focused when you attend college. First off, let me tell you
what the SMART acronym stands for.SMART stands for Specific,
Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Based. If you set
goals that are specific you will identify all specifics about
the goal. Your goals must also be measurable so you'll
know how far you've come or how much longer you have
to go. Also keep in mind that the goals that you set
have to be goals that can really be accomplished, be
realistic. If you hate science and you do poorly in the
subject you probably shouldn't be a science teacher. Set time
frames for your goals. SMART goals will help you stay
focused and reach your goals. It's hard to reach a destination
without a plan or goal in mind. Be sure to set short
term goals , they help you ultimately achieve your long
term goals.One of my own professional goals is to become
an HR Director. One of the SMART components that will
need to be revisited is the specifics. I need to work
on some more details about how I'm going to get there.
I already work in HR and I'm working on earning my
Bachelor's Degree in Business now. However, I still need to
gain additional specific knowledge. I need to figure out if
this experience and knowledge will come from taking on
more tasks at work or through education.Some of my current
stress comes from my two year old. I stress about not
spending enough time with her. The strategies that I'm using
now to reduce that stress is definitely time management tools.
I'm getting used to organizing and planning my time so I
can have more time to spend with her. SMART goals are
beneficial because they help keep you focused and on track.
If you follow the five steps for SMART goals, you will
have a goal that is clearly defined and well planned out.
When reflecting on my goals, the SMART component that I
need to work on is time-based. I have my goals that
I want to achieve but have not set specific dates for
them. By making dates that I want to achieve them, it
will make them more achievable and not put them off
anymore. The current cause of my stress is finding the
balance of home, work, and school life. There are days
that it seems that there are just not enough hours to
accomplish everything that needs to get done. When everything
seems to be to much, I like to take a little time off
and have some me time. Sometimes that is taking a long
drive and listening to music, going fishing, or relaxing at
the beach. Doing these things helps me kind of reset my
head so I can get back to focusing on my goals. My
son is graduating in May, so I have explained the benefits
of setting his smart goals to him. If he has smart goals
it will help him stay focused and ensure he meets his
goals on time. He chooses what he wants to do, then
he will set a timeline on when he will complete it.
This typically will be the amount of time it takes to
get his degree or certificate. I explain to him to make
sure the goal is achievable and very realistic this will also
help ensure he stays on track.I have a personal goal of
purchasing a house. During this progress I have realized that
I need more time to do so. I have to re-visit my
plan and set a realistic timeline in dong so. This will
also have another goal to achieve to achieve this goal. It
will be very crucial I follow the smart goals to achieve
said goals.My stress relief tends to be getting things done.
I find when I get stressed out if I complete tasks it
makes me feel better and more determined on things that
cause stress for me. Staying positive and trying to avoid
stress is the key for me. You have to find out ways
to eliminate stress. I stay very focused and prevent it as
much as possible, so when I do get stressed I re-assess
why and come up with a plan of action. Part I towards
achieving a successful goal is to first Identify a goal, as
this shows your initial motivational want to achieve something
bigger for yourself. Part II towards achieving a successful
goal is to assess your goal within your current priorities,
as this helps to configure whether reassessment would be
necessary to ensure the goal is able to attain next level
attention. Part III towards achieving a successful goal is to
break down the goal into smaller SMART goal segments to
being S-pecific, M-easureable, A-ttainable, R-ealistic, and T-imely.
Benefits of making a goal SMART not only helps add
visualization, but an step-by-step action plan that incorporates it
into your daily/weekly routine. SMART goals can also help
phase long term goals into smaller achievable ones, which
helps with motivational achievements along the way.A current
stressor that typically becomes an interference of my goal are
the daily distractions of life as it happens as a full-time
wife, mother, and professional, and student along with a non-
profit lead, sister, and friend. Among the obligations for each,
trying to be on a schedule as much as possible, things
just seem to come up, and the game of balance becomes
challenging and choosing what to do next seems to build.
A strategy or coping skills that I can use to best
address this type of goal distraction is to not accept so
much on my plate and to know that it is o.k. to
say "Sorry, I'm unable to participate this time, and whether
rescheduling is an option." I would let the high school
graduate know that, using the SMART system is a very
good idea. Doing this will help them to understand and
be able to achieve whatever goals they have in mind.
Doing so will reduce or eliminate some stress that they
might have in the future.I remember when I wanted to go
back to school and finish my degree. I was working two
jobs, being a single parent, and taking care of my
grandparents. I just kept telling myself that I can do it.
I wish I would have sat down and really thought this
through. I was so stressed and wasn’t completing my work
and neglecting my duties to my grandparents aide I was
so drained. I think if I had known about the SMART
system i would have been able to achieve my goals. The
R in SMART really stands out to me. If I just had
thought to myself and asked myself “am I being realistic”
never crossed my mind. My current stressors are my health
and my daughter. My health is not at its best and I
take a lot of medicine to cope with the pain and to
hell me get through the day. Also, my daughter suffers
with Autism, ADHD, and Bipolar. So she some good days
and some bad ones. I never know what the day holds,
I just have to be prepared. I learned that sometimes I
just need to sit down, take a deep breath, pray and
ask for guidance. Patience is the key to everything. I have
learned that somethings are just out of my control. Taking
a couple of deep breaths and re-accessing the situation. That
has helped me out along the way. SMART Goals are very
beneficial for achieving our ambitions. By making specific long
term and short-term goals, we can ensure that we do no
try to progress aimlessly. Measurable goals allow us to track
our progress. Achievable and Realistic goals keep us grounded
and away from flights of fancy. Time related goals stop
procrastination and hold us accountable. I would go over all
this with a high school student to illustrate the obvious
advantages of SMART goals. One goal I have had is
weight loss. I have a specific goal weight, and I can
easily measure it with a scale. My goal weight is a
realistic and achievable one. However, I have not specified
any time frame to achieve that goal weight. I feel this
needs to be evaluated. I can probably break by goal weight
into multiple smaller, easier to achieve ones, and set specific
dates to hit each one. This would ensure my success.One
of my biggest stressors is the financial one. I'm constantly
keeping a very close eye on my spending habits, retirement
savings, and investment performance. And of course, making
rent. The best way I cope when the financial stress
becomes too much is to step away and speak to my
dad. It is an escape response, but the support keeps my
emotions satisfied. He also used to work as a mutual fund
manager, so he can help with the actual cause of the
stress too. I would describe the benefits of creating SMART
goals to a high school graduate about to start college as
a must do. SMART goals will allow you to focus on
what needs to be done right now to help you achieve
your goal of graduating college. I believe SMART goals help
to make you responsible because they hold you accountable
for the outcome of the goals you set now and in the
future. A personal goal that I need to revisit is my
weight loss goal. I have set a goal for myself to lose
25 pounds in a six-month period. This is where it gets
to be tricky for me because I feel this is a measurable
and achievable element of my SMART goals. Because I
weigh in weekly, I can see measurable progress especially
when I have lost weight, however if I gain weight then
that is when I start to wonder if I can actually achieve
my goal of 25 pounds. I say I need to revisit this
goal because I have put on 5 pounds in the past month,
so I need to take a look at some of the things I
am doing wrong and pick back up on my good habits.
I do feel today that stress if a big factor in me not
meeting my weight loss goal. At my job right now, Open
Enrolment has begun and the daily stress of that carries
over to home and eating late and not finding the time
for exercise. Admittedly eating unfortunately is a coping
mechanism as Chocolate is my go-to when I am at work.
But as I am writing this response, I hear how ridiculous
that sounds. So, as I am new to my position at work
my coping strategy starting today is going to be to go
for a ten-minute walk. Not only will this temporarily take
my mind off of my current task, it will also give a
a few minutes of the exercise I so desperately need to
meet my weight loss goal. The benefits of setting a
SMART goal to a recent high-school graduate who is about
to start college is being able to achieve what you set
out to do. It is important to manage goals and set
yourself up to succeed and to meet those goals. SMART
goals help you set reasonable and specific goals that you
can obtain. College is a big step, and it is different
from high school, everyone wants to succeed and graduate
from college so using SMART goals you can achieve being
a successful college student while also learning responsibility by
making adult decisions for yourself. A personal goal of mine
is to be healthy by eating right so I can lose weight.
This SMART goal is not specific or time sensitive so this
goal will never be met because not a specific time frame
or what needs to be done to be healthy and to lose
weight was set. My current stress right now is finances
and constant responsibilities of balancing school, work, and my
family. The way I manage the stress when it gets
overwhelming is to just take a break from it all and
take some time out for me. The things that stress me
out can be put on the back burning sometimes and I
use this me time to just relax and refocus. I would tell
a recent high-school graduate that SMART goals will help
you prepare and do well in college. SMART goals clearly
describe the goal you are working toward and makes it
easier to track your progress. One of my short-term personal
goals is to get more exercise. However, that is not a
SMART goal, because it lacks nearly all of the SMART
components. It is not specific, measurable, or time sensitive.
In order to make this a SMART goal, I would need
to add in these components. I could amend this goal, in
order to make it a SMART goal, to: I will go to
the gym to exercise for at least 30 minutes three days
a week for the next three months. This goal is specific,
measurable (30 minutes three times per week), achievable (using
my gym membership), realistic, and time sensitive (three
months).My two biggest sources of stress are a lack of
time and my health. To cope with the lack of time, I
can effectively utilize the time management skills we learned
in week one: keeping a schedule, to-do lists, etc. I can
use my schedule to see smaller blocks of wasted time and
try to utilize that by adjusting other events around to free
up larger blocks of time. To help with my health, I
can set goals related to healthy living, including exercising
more often, eating healthier, and lowering my A1C (long-term
blood glucose level). I believe that SMART goals would be
best explained to a young adult just coming out of high
school as a critical tool in your path to success. I
would tell them that these goals can define your success
and be a constant guide and reminder to the goals that
they set forth to achieve. After reading and reviewing this
section, I believe that I need to revisit the "Measurable"
and the "Time-Based" aspects of my goals. I have the
basics of my plan in place, where I want to be and
how to get there; I just do not have a solid set of
milestones. I think that if I put in place measurable events
with a time-based goal, I could reward myself along the
way to the larger goals and keep myself motivated. Some
of my current stressors are my work and family life and
juggling a healthy balance in between. At this point, I am
not doing anything to cope with my stress. I find myself
stuck in a place where I feel I do not have the
time to have my own hobby or stress relief, but the
reality is that I do have the time, I just need to
make it a priority. I believe that I could use reading a
book as a good coping mechanism to stress. The benefits
of creating SMART goals for a recent high school graduate
would enable the individual to set goals for themselves after
thinking about their next move. For instance, maybe this
individual would like to start a part-time job and take one
year off from school, before starting college. Utilizing the
SMART goals would enable the individual to set specific
goal that would be measurable by setting himself a goal
on his/ hers GPA. Achievable by keeping yourself accountable
to your commitments and is going to college going to be
realistic a year later after graduating high school. Lastly, is
working part-time and going to college going to be completed
at a specific time? Will this individual need to adjust their
schedule to meet their goals? These would be great examples
of why an individual that just graduated may want to set
a SMART goal. I am very familiar with the SMART goal
setting, as we tend to use this system with our own
employees in our sales teams. We are often setting expectations
and goals in order to achieve our sales goals and objectives
at Pepsi Co. I think the smart goal strategy is definitely
one that high school graduates could use because a lot of
them have issues finding out which way to go. I think
that it’s important to find a way to strategize your goals
and not just set them because most people that set them
don’t ever reach them. I think I’ve done well at reaching
my goals throughout my life, But I had also changed a
lot of goals that I don’t think I necessarily needed to.
I think the biggest thing to take away from that smart
strategy is that if you are not good at prioritizing and
setting up a plan to reach your goals it helps you.
With that said though I do believe it can do some
good to the people who are even confident at setting and
reaching goals because it can help organize and make a
little bit simpler the issues you may have if you are
confident . Some changes happening in my life would be
I just moved and started a new job this year. I also
received custody of my child this month. The best thing
I do to help reduce stress is to look at how far I
have come in such a short period of time. I also like
to write in my journal 1 sentence a day about why I
am happy with my life. if we feel good about different
things going on in our life that our overall health should
be a reflection of that. However, finding that balance is
sometimes difficult because everything else seems so important
or urgent. I feel the basic human instinct is to take
our health for granted especially if we do not have any
outlying symptoms. So for me time management and SMART
goals are going to be big for me moving forward. SMART
goals helps get from "I" to "A" in in the word "IDEA".
"I" am being defined as idea and the "A" defined as
action. This is a saying I read and obviously stuck with
me as a reminder to put action to my "one day" ideas.
Ensuring that all areas of the SMART goal process is
utilized can help with progress monitoring and reassessment of
goals if necessary. It's important to remember that initial
goals can change as circumstances change, and that's ok, just
as long as the goal is still making phase progress.
