Making Goals Worksheet

Goals work best when they are clear and broken into steps. Answer a few prompts — what you want, how you will measure it, your target and deadline, why it matters and what might get in the way — and the worksheet writes a SMART goal statement, splits the target into weekly milestones and produces a one-page plan to print or save.

What a SMART goal is

“Get fitter” is a wish; “Run 20 km a week by 31 January so I can enter a 10k in spring” is a SMART goal. The worksheet checks each element and flags the parts to strengthen.

Why writing goals down helps

Writing a goal forces you to decide what success looks like, and a written plan is easier to review, share and adjust. Breaking a big target into weekly milestones turns an intimidating goal into a series of manageable steps, and ticking them off builds momentum. Many people also find that telling an accountability partner — a friend, coach or colleague — makes them more likely to follow through.

Outcome goals and process goals

An outcome goal is the result you want (save $1,000, finish a 10k, get a B in chemistry). A process goal is the behaviour that leads there (save $40 every Friday, run three times a week, study for 30 minutes after dinner). You control process goals directly, so the best plans pair one outcome goal with two or three process goals — the action steps in the worksheet.

Examples by area

Planning for obstacles

Most goals fail not for lack of motivation but because life gets in the way. A simple “if–then” plan helps: “If it is raining, then I will do a 20-minute indoor workout.” “If I get paid late, then I will move the savings transfer to the following Monday.” Write your biggest obstacle and your plan for it on the worksheet so the decision is already made when the moment comes.

Tracking progress

1. Set a weekly check-in time — Sunday evening works for many people.
2. Record the actual number next to the milestone target.
3. If you are behind, look at what got in the way and adjust the plan, not just the target.
4. Celebrate milestones: small rewards reinforce the habit.
5. Revisit the “why” when motivation dips.

Worked example

Sam wants to “get fitter by running regularly”. Measured in kilometres per week, from 5 to 20 by 31 January, because they want more energy and a 10k race in spring. The main obstacle is dark evenings, so two runs move to lunchtime. The worksheet writes the SMART statement, confirms all five elements, and sets straight-line weekly targets — about 1 km more each week — with space to record the actual distance. Sam prints the plan and shares it with a running friend.

Common goal-setting mistakes

• Setting too many goals at once — focus on one to three.
• Making the goal depend on things outside your control (a promotion) rather than actions you control (apply for three roles, ask for feedback).
• No deadline, or a deadline so far away that there is no urgency.
• No plan for obstacles.
• Never reviewing progress until the deadline arrives.
• Treating a missed week as failure instead of adjusting.

Reviewing and resetting goals

When you reach a goal, take a moment to note what helped — then set the next one, building on the habit you created. If a goal no longer matters, it is fine to change it; the “R” in SMART means the goal should still be relevant. At the end of each month or term, look back at the milestone table and decide whether to continue, adjust or replace the goal.

For teachers and coaches

Goal-setting worksheets help students take ownership of learning. Use them at the start of term, check in every few weeks, and ask students to reflect on what worked. Coaches and managers can use the same format in one-to-one meetings to agree development goals.

Privacy

Your goals stay in your browser; nothing is uploaded or stored.