S.M.A.R.T. Goals: A Guide for Creatives

Ringing in the new year, we always find ourselves inspired by the longer days and the idea of a fresh start. Following (an actually ancient) tradition, we usually make a mental note of a few changes we’d like to incorporate into our lives as new or updated habits. If you’re anything like us, it can be hard to keep those goals in sight once the holidays are over, work starts back up in earnest, and you settle into a daily routine. The problem with traditional resolution setting is that it usually starts as a BIG idea that never really gets refined into something actionable. Enter: S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

A S.M.A.R.T. goal is a framework designed to give you specific, measurable goals that are realistic and time-bound to align with your priorities and track progress effectively. Like the idea that creativity thrives in an environment set with constraints to work within, this framework eliminates the blank page and gives you a distinct focus. For example, one of your goals this year may be to “design a portfolio website.” But where do you start? With S.M.A.R.T. goals, that idea might become “I will dedicate 2 hours a week to create a 5-page portfolio site with responsive design by March 31.”

A few tips as you start your S.M.A.R.T. goal practice. Breaking your big goals into smaller milestones can help you decide what you’d like to work on. Using tools like Dropmark to help you stay organized and visually track your progress is a great way to keep your goals measurable. Take time to regularly review and adjust your goals based on progress. One of the great appeals to goals using this framework is that it’s not just all or nothing. By checking in regularly, you can continually adjust your plan. With that in mind, though, don’t forget to celebrate the small wins to maintain motivation!

The goals you set with the S.M.A.R.T. framework are much more likely to get done since they have been specific and included actionable, achievable plans. Although we’ve outlined using them for New Year’s resolutions, this framework applies anytime! We included a prompt for you to try out or use as inspiration below (more on our insta). If you work on one or make up your own, let us know how it turns out, and you might get featured on Dropmark!

Happy New Year and happy goal setting!