Set Short and Long-Term Goals

Where would you like to be in five years? Ten years? What would you like to have accomplished by the time you retire? Think about and write down your long-term goals using the SMART method. Include career, education, financial, or personal goals. These goals can be related to each other. You might have one goal that affects all areas of your life.

SMART:
Specific: Be specific about the goal including what you want to accomplish, location, and time frame.
Measurable: How will you measure your success? How much of your goal will you accomplish and when?
Attainable: Create steps for your goal. This will give you a sense of accomplishment along the way.
Realistic: You are more likely to reach a goal if you believe that you can do it.
Timely or Tangible: By setting a deadline you have something to work towards. Sometimes it helps if your goal is something you can sense either visually or physically.

Use the Long-Term Goals (pdf) to write down your goals. You may not have goals in all areas.