You Can Use ‘SMART’ Productivity Goals for Studying Too

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If you work in the corporate world, you've almost certainly heard of SMART goals, which are meant to help you work better with your team and be more productive. Similarly, you may have heard of them in the fitness space, as they're commonly used as part of personal training plans thanks to their specificity and rigidity. But the SMART system is helpful for all kinds of tasks—especially if you’re a student. Here are some tips for using SMART goals when you’re studying.

What are SMART goals?

SMART goals aren’t just good—well, smart—ideas. It’s actually an acronym:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Relevant

• Time-bound

The idea came from business consultant George T. Doran in 1981, when he wrote into Management Review to criticize the poor goal-setting he encountered at many companies. (In his original outline, the “A” stood for “assignable,” but with time, “achievable” took hold as the go-to designation.)

When using the SMART system, all your goals should align with the five elements of the acronym.

How to use SMART goals to study more effectively

The process starts with writing a goal statement that hits on all of the elements of the SMART acronym. Here’s an example: Say you have a test in statistics next week and you got a C on the last one. You can write, “My goal is to get a B+ or higher on the exam by studying for an hour every night from now until the test date.”

It’s specific, because you’re setting not only the exact grade you want to get, but the steps you need to take to get it. It’s measurable, because you’ll be able to see whether you accomplished the goal as soon as your test is graded. It’s achievable, because it’s just one letter grade higher than what you got last time, so it’s not as lofty as aiming for an A+. It’s relevant, because it’s an upcoming test, not a vague plan for your end-of-semester grade. Finally, it’s time-bound, because you’re basing it on a looming date and making a plan for all the days between now and then.

You can see how that differs from, "My goal is to get an A in this class" or even "My goal is to get a B on the next test." SMART goals drill down on all the necessary elements that will add up to your success. They don't leave wiggle room or space for excuses because they're timed, they're actionable, and they're realistic. The farther out you plan or the loftier your goal is, the easier it gets to push it to the side. A SMART goal keeps you focused and on a schedule.

When you're studying on a schedule, you need a plan that works with it. Try flashcards using the Leitner system and spaced repetition, two studying approaches that rely on strict scheduling between now and the date you need to know something. They're valuable methods because, by spacing out the time between study sessions, they force you to use active recall to retrieve information from your memory. They're the perfect complement to a SMART goal.

Finally, write down your SMART goals. Hand-writing is always recommended, since it helps you remember things, but you can jot them anywhere you might see them, like in an assignment folder or near your workspace. Constant reminders help you stay on track with what you need to be doing.

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