Setting SMART school goals

I know, I know, it's only the beginning of August. But we've already started to see "back to school" commercials (though not that funny Staples one yet) and so of course I'm thinking about everything I need to accomplish before the summer ends, and when I head back to class.

My longtime readers—thanks, everyone!—will know that I always set goals. I wish I could say I always hit the mark, but that wouldn't be quite true...though I have improve my Math marks in the past two days. What I do know is that making goals keeps me focussed. At least somewhat.

So I'm going back to making SMART goals.

Not SMART in the “intelligence” way. S.M.A.R.T is an acronym for goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. Get it? SMART.

I tend—accidentally, of course—to set goals that are too vague (ie: write this summer), or not achievable (ie: get 100% in Math)—and that's not SMART. So I need to think...SMARTer.

So here are my S.M.A.R.T. goals for school this year:

1. I will increase my Math mark by 5%. (Specific, right? Also…measurable!)
2. I will read 10 books by the end of the school year. (Last year, I tried for 15, and 25 the year before. Clearly not achievable.)
3. I will go for an afternoon run five days a week, no matter how busy I am. (Definitely relevant since I want to make the Track and Field team again.)
4. I will volunteer for one school committee. I have NO idea which one yet, but it will be something meaningful. (This is obviously measurable—and achievable!)
5. I will use my ENTIRE notebook before starting a new one. Okay, this sounds easy, but I LOVE starting a new notebook. There’s something exciting about the first page. I can do this — I just might need to write MORE to fill up the pages. Which, ironically, is another of my school goals this year.

These are my Top 5. What are some of your school goals this year? Are you being SMART?

Gotta jet! Have a super long weekend.

~ Chase Superman Duffy