SMART Goals: The Key to Turning Big Plans into Achievable Progress

Hi friends!

I’m back! You probably didn’t even realize I was missing, but trust me, I was thinking about you and my commitment to show up here. These past two weeks have been ... a lot.

My husband and I set some pretty ambitious goals for the Christmas break: reviewing our financial plan, working on paperwork to prepare for the unexpected, designing our backyard, and tackling a long list of “to-dos” for the business. Add in the family time we planned with our kids, and honestly — what were we thinking?

Looking back, I realize I should have been more tactical in setting and prioritizing my goals. I chose to focus on business first because I had intentionally taken time off from my full-time job and set a deadline for myself. It wasn’t perfect, but having that clarity helped me keep moving forward — even when other things fell behind.

In the days leading up to Christmas, we felt like we were crushing it. But as the end of the holidays loomed closer, reality hit hard. By Saturday, emotions were running high for everyone. The house was a mess, the holiday decorations were still up, the kids were complaining they had no clean clothes, and I felt like I’d been working nonstop without making a dent in my massive list.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: our goals weren’t realistic. They weren’t actionable. And they weren’t SMART.

The Difference Between Goals and Tasks

I think we’ve all been there — setting a big goal and diving into it without breaking it down into manageable steps. It’s easy to confuse tasks with goals, but they’re not the same thing.

• A task is something specific you can check off a list, like “take down holiday decorations” or “update the kids’ chore charts.”
• A goal is bigger and requires planning, like “create a family schedule for chores that reduces stress and helps us feel more organized.”

Without clear, actionable steps, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where SMART goals come in.

What Are SMART Goals?

SMART is an acronym that stands for:

• Specific: What exactly are you trying to achieve?
• Measurable: How will you know when you’ve succeeded?
• Achievable: Is this goal realistic given your current time and resources?
• Relevant: Does this goal align with your values and priorities?
• Time-Bound: When will you accomplish this?

Let me give you an example:

One of our big goals over the break was to review our financial and estate plans. We kept saying, “We need to do this.” But we never got specific. We didn’t decide what needed to be reviewed, when we’d do it, or how we’d tackle it. Instead of being actionable, the goal became this looming cloud of pressure that we never got to.

If we’d approached it as a SMART goal, it might have looked like this:

• Specific: Review our financial and estate plans, focusing on key documents (wills, account beneficiaries, etc.).
• Measurable: Ensure all documents are current and updated.
• Achievable: Schedule two 1-hour sessions to tackle this over the weekend.
• Relevant: It’s a priority for our family’s security.
• Time-Bound: Complete the updates by January 15th.

See the difference?

Prioritize and Give Yourself Grace

Life happens, and sometimes plans get derailed. One of our kids ended up in the ER over the break (thankfully, he’s fine now), and that was a reminder to roll with it and adjust. But when things don’t go as planned, my anxiety often creeps in, followed by self-doubt and even feelings of unworthiness. It’s tough, but I’m learning to pause, take a breath, and remind myself that it’s okay to reset. Grace matters just as much as grit.

We also had to prioritize. For me, that meant stepping away from social media to focus on getting something big done: launching my website. It isn’t perfect, and we’re still testing it, but it’s live!

When perfectionism and analysis paralysis started creeping in, I caught myself pushing too hard and focusing too much on small details. My default is to keep grinding, but I’m learning that taking a break — whether it’s watching a movie with my kids or going for a walk — can do wonders. Coming back with fresh eyes made all the difference.

The Takeaway

Big goals can feel overwhelming, but breaking them down into SMART steps makes them more achievable. Think about what might get in your way — like time constraints, unexpected events, or limited resources — and plan how to navigate those obstacles.

Life happens, and it’s okay if things don’t go perfectly. Stay flexible, focus on what matters most, and celebrate every step forward, no matter how small.

If you’re setting goals for the new year, try this:

1. Write down your big goal.
2. Use the SMART framework to clarify and make it actionable and time-bound.
3. Break it into smaller, actionable steps.
4. Identify potential obstacles and brainstorm ways to overcome them.

You’ve got this. Let’s make 2025 the year we set goals that inspire us, align with our purpose, and move us forward.

What’s one SMART goal you’re setting for yourself this year?