I participated in HPUD last month for the first time and again this month. In both posts, I mentioned setting SMART goals. I did not explain the concept as I figured it is often spoken about. However, when I mentioned it in the Neoxian City discord, it became clear that not everyone is familiar with the concept. I was encouraged by the questions of @burlarj to write this post.

To bring the concept to life and to keep it simple - I will use my own story as an example. You can focus on one of your own goals whilst reading.

**My goal**
I decided to power up monthly but also to set a goal of increasing my HP to 7,500 by December 31, 2023. Personally, participating in HPUD and setting goals publicly is a big deal for me. I am applying practices used offline - to my time on the Hive platform. Now that I've written my goals here - I am being more deliberate and trying harder to achieve them. 

In our daily lives, we often set career, professional, health and other personal life goals.

***What happens when we set goals:***
Here are some of my thoughts:
1. We clarify what it is that we want to achieve.
2. We think with the end in mind.
3. We become more focused on that one thing. 
4. We are deliberate as our goals are our guide.
5. We take responsibility because we know that in order to achieve success we must “put in the work”- hence taking rightful action.
6. We monitor our steps to achieve our goal.
7. We have something to look forward to.
8. We realize that we are masters of our own reality/fate.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRxYm2JGDPLUfijMPH6J1aaP7jJLEyDMRGWES39iy8txi/image_2023_08_06_16_28_48.jpg)
*5 birds on the beach*

Now I will share the **S.M.A.R.T.** principle which will encompass the thoughts I shared. The **5 elements** of the acronym **S.M.A.R.T.** stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable, Relevant, and Timely/Time-bound. 

**What are **S.M.A.R.T.** goals:**
- **S**pecific – goals must be clear and well defined. You know your specific desired outcome and the steps to achieve them.
- **M**easurable – determine a method of measuring your progress to track your actions. You will then know how close you are to your goal and also when it is met.
- **A**ttainable/ Achievable – goals should be challenging but not out of reach. They should be “doable” but not be too easy so you will have a sense of accomplishment. As a result, you'll remain committed and enthusiastic about achieving them. Then there will be limited frustration.
- **R**elevant – goals should be fitting and contributing to with your desired outcome. They should be relevant and realistic.
- **T**imely/Time-bound - a deadline is needed for goals; irrespective of whether they are long or short-term. Goals should be accomplished within a certain defined period. 
Thereafter, an evaluation can be done regarding success or failure.

**Is my goal **S.M.A.R.T.**?** 
*My **SMART** goal is to grow my HP to 7500 HP by December 31, 2023.*

-- It is clear and specific.
-- It is measureable - there is a number and progress can be tracked monthly via https://hivestats.io/.
-- It is achievable - based on knowledge of my online availability to write - the goal is challenging but doable.
-- It is relevant - I want to grow my HP therefore setting this goal contributes to my overall growth. 
-- It is time-bound - the deadline is 31 December 2023.

## Some additional tips
- **Write down the goals you want to achieve** - this will make your SMART goals more real and powerful. Supposedly, we think 60,000-80,000 thoughts per day. Writing down your goals means you've made a selection from all those thoughts. It will also serve as a reminder. 
- **Write down the reason(s) why you set these goals** - when you are lacking in motivation this list will be there to remind you about the benefits. It will also encourage you regarding why you started in the first place.
- **Tell someone about your goal** - this helps you to remain accountable. That person might monitor your progress - even by asking, "How is it going?". You will more likely remain committed.
- **Make a plan** - Establish the steps that you need to take to achieve your goal. Tick off the steps when you have accomplished them. It starts with the first step.
- **Visualize yourself completing the goal** - this will help you to remember why you set the goals. It will also help you to focus on the results and the benefits you will have when you have achieved your goal. 
- **Celebrate your accomplishments** - enjoy the feeling of getting there. Celebrate! It does not matter if they're small or large achievements. This will boost your confidence and provide encouragement for future goal setting.

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The photo is my own