You ever decide you’re finally going to make a change; get organized, get healthier, reconnect with yourself, and suddenly your brain treats it like you’ve enlisted in some productivity army?
One minute you’re excited. The next, you’re mentally drafting a 12-week plan and judging yourself for not starting it last Tuesday.
If that’s where you’re at, take a breath, you’re in the right spot and… welcome to team human!
I created this blog so that you’ll have a way to set goals that actually fit your life.
Something that helps you feel more prepared, more confident, and more in control of your next step.
Also, here’s a free SMART Goals Worksheet to help you turn this into something you can actually use.
Also, also, I didn’t invent SMART goals, I just use them a lot!
Ready to begin? Let's go!
Most of the goals you’ve set in your life weren’t designed for the real you. They were designed for the “perfect circumstances” version of you.
The well-rested, fully motivated, nothing-on-your-plate, woke-up-feeling-like-a-Disney-princess version.
So if you’ve ever set a goal and immediately felt overwhelmed, beat yourself up, or quit because it was “too much,” that’s not a failure.
That’s a sign the goal wasn’t built to fit the season you’re in.
SMART goals give you structure, but only if you use them gently. More like a conversation with yourself and less like a performance review.
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
But the real magic isn’t the acronym.
It’s how it helps you feel more capable
Let’s break it down in a way that feels like something you can actually live with.Tip from a peer support worker: There isn’t a “perfect” way to do SMART goals but following the way I’ve laid this out (especially if you’re just starting) is a great way to see progress.
Once you get the hang of it, start experimenting.
As always, meet yourself where your at.
(If you like having something concrete to work with, click here for the SMART Goals Worksheet)
Being specific means getting honest about what you actually want, not what sounds good, not what you think you “should” want, and not whatever your overachiever brain invents at 11 p.m.
A helpful question to ask yourself is: “What exactly am I hoping will feel different in my day-to-day life?”
If you can answer that, you’re already more specific than most people.
And here’s the truth: Your brain loves ambiguity. When things are vague, pressure fills in the blanks.
But when you give your goal some clarity, your brain finally knows where to aim instead of spinning in circles.
Specific doesn’t mean rigid. It just gives you something real to work with.
Measurement gets a bad rap because people think it means you’re “grading yourself,” but it’s actually the opposite.
When done gently, measurement helps you build confidence by showing you what you did, not what you didn’t do. It’s the difference between outcomes (which are big, dramatic, and slow) and outputs (the small things you actually control).
Outcome: “Reduce stress.”
Output: “Write for five minutes before bed.”
One reminds you you’re at. The other reminds you you’re trying.
And that’s what makes measurement powerful. It lets you see your effort, even on weeks where nothing feels like it’s moving.
Measurement should feel supportive, not strict. Just enough structure to help your confidence catch up with your intentions.
Here’s the simplest test for whether a goal is achievable:
If you wouldn’t do it with a headache and no clean dishes, it might be a sign it’s too big
or even burnout.
Achievable goals are the ones you can still show up for when your motivation is low, your energy is patchy, and your brain feels like it’s running on 1990s dial-up.
Choosing something realistic isn’t you “being lazy” or “aiming low.” It’s how you build competence.
This is how you learn to trust yourself. By choosing challenges you can actually complete.
I’ll be honest… I struggle with this and sometimes find myself building the ship as I sail it.
So remember, it’s ok to adjust as you go.
Relevance is all about alignment.
It’s easy to get caught in living a life under the pressure of performance. A goal is relevant when it actually supports the life you want to live.
A grounding reflection you can try is:
“Does this goal connect to what I value right now or does it belong to an old version of me?”
So many goals come from outside expectations: a boss, a partner, old habits, or the imaginary crowd of people you think you’re supposed to impress.
A quick prompt to trace its roots:
“Where did this goal come from, and does it still fit who I’m becoming?”
(For more reflection questions, check this out).
If the answer feels off, adjust it.
Relevant goals feel like they’re working with you, not against you.
Simply put, when do you want ot achieve you’re goal by?
A time-bound goal should feel like a rhythm you can return to and not a countdown that overwhelms and stresses you out.
Something to keep in mind…
There’s a huge difference between a forever goal (“I’m going to meditate every day for the rest of my life”) and a seasonal goal (“For the next two weeks, I’ll try five minutes in the morning”).
For the purpose of today’s exercise – if forever goals (which you can use SMART goals for) feel heavy, than start with seasonal goals. This should feel doable.
And of course, if you need to adjust the timeline halfway through, do it.
Aim for feeling good AND getting s*it done.
If you want something practical to walk away with, here’s a simple place to start:
If you’d like help walking through it, here’s that SMART Goals Worksheet again.
A SMART goal can shift everything.
It reminds you that growth doesn’t come from force. Pause. Breathe. Let your goals fit your life, not the other way around.
Real momentum begins in the moments you stop trying to be perfect and start giving yourself something you can actually carry.
If you’re ready to keep building confidence and clarity, here are a few next steps:
Watch: This Teacher’s View on Art and Self-Care Will Change How You See Both
Read: Why Saying "I Don't Know" Might Be The Smartest Thing You Say This Week
Listen: Episode 1: Hannah Marie — Don't Use Erasers
To be the first to get more stories, tools, and life experiments like this, subscribe to the email list at thejeffturner.ca.
Until next time, I’m Jeff Turner, and remember to take care of yourself, however that looks for you.