Goal Setting & SMART Goals
What does SMART stand for, and why is each component important?
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Relevant
T – Time-based
Why is time management important?
It increases productivity, reduces stress, improves organization, and helps achieve goals efficiently.
How do phones/social media interfere?
They distract attention, waste time, and reduce focus.
Why identify the best productivity periods?
To schedule difficult tasks when you are most alert and efficient.
Why is flexibility important?
Life is unpredictable; staying calm and adjusting prevents stress and burnout.
Why is it important that goals are self-chosen rather than imposed by others?
Self-chosen goals increase motivation, responsibility, commitment, and ownership.
Steps to create an effective daily to-do list:
Write all tasks
Assign priorities (*, 1, 2)
Limit top priorities
Use a calendar
Cross off completed tasks
Common causes of procrastination:
Fear of failure
Anxiety
Lack of priorities
Not knowing where to start
How does scheduling hard tasks during your best times help?
Improves quality of work and reduces time needed.
How do rewards improve motivation?
They reinforce progress and maintain momentum toward long-term goals.
What is the difference between long-range, medium-range, and short-range goals?
Long-range: Achieved in several years
Medium-range: Achieved in months to a year
Short-range: Achieved in days or weeks
Why limit priority 1 tasks?
Too many urgent tasks reduces focus and creates overwhelm.
Why is worrying a time waster?
It drains mental energy without solving problems.
How do seasonal changes affect productivity?
Less sunlight may increase depression and decrease motivation.
What mistakes did Taisha make?
She set only one large goal
No smaller steps or action plan
Possibly unrealistic time frame
Did not use SMART criteria
Why should goals be measurable and time-based?
So you can track progress and know when the goal has been achieved.
Why break large tasks into smaller steps?
It reduces stress, increases motivation, and makes progress measurable.
How can overplanning reduce efficiency?
Spending too much time organizing instead of doing the work wastes time.
Why schedule low-value tasks between study sessions?
They provide mental breaks while still staying productive.
Why avoid too many long-range goals?
It causes overwhelm and reduces focus.
How can unrealistic goals negatively affect motivation?
They can cause frustration, discouragement, and loss of confidence.
Why consult a desk calendar?
It helps see deadlines, commitments, and the “big picture” to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Strategies to reduce procrastination:
Set clear priorities
Do hardest tasks first
Ask questions
Use rewards
Control distractions
How does proper sleep improve productivity?
It improves focus, memory, mood, and decision-making.
How does time management reduce stress?
It creates structure, prevents last-minute panic, and increases control over responsibilities.