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How to set certain goals in uncertain times

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“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You’re given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself.” — A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle

We’re all experiencing a major life change at the moment, which is the perfect time for us to reflect and prepare for the future. Although what the future will look like when we emerge from this pandemic is still uncertain, we can still set certain goals for how we’d like to arrive in the new world.

Here, we’ll provide you the framework but what goal you set is up to YOU!

List out some goals you have for yourself for the next few months. Include ones that you’d like to work towards either during this pandemic or after it passes. Once you have an idea of what you’d like to accomplish, turn it into a SMART goal.

S: Specific. Be as detailed as possible when setting a goal, so your objective is clear and certain.

If your goal is to read more, consider: what types of book do you want to read? Does it have to be a book you’ve never read before to count toward your goal? Does listening to audiobooks count or do you want to read more physical copies of books?

M: Measurable. How will you know when you achieve your goal?

If your goal is to read more, decide HOW MANY books you want to read.

A: Achievable. Do you have the resources available to work toward your goal? If not, how can you get those resources? Is there someone you can ask for help?

If your goal is to read 100 new books, do you have access to a library card or the Libby app so you can check out books for free?

R: Realistic. Is your goal possible? Does it fit in with your other goals in life?

Think about your other commitments. When will you make time for reading? Is 100 new books realistic? Maybe you could start with 10 new books.

T: Timely. What is the deadline to complete the goal? Is that timeline realistic?

 Also consider:

  • Why did you choose these goals?

  • What challenges do you think you’ll face with these goals during this pandemic, and what are ways you can overcome these challenges?

  • What excites you about working towards your goals?

Once you have selected your SMART goal, make an action plan for how you will achieve it!

Tell us what your goals are in the comments below.