Day 5 of Christie’s SMART Goals 101: Time-bound

Welcome to the final installment of the Christie’s SMART Goals 101 series! This week, we’ve journeyed through the framework that helps turn objectives into actionable plans. On Monday, we explored the importance of being Specific. On Tuesday, we looked at how Measurable goals keep you on track. Wednesday was all about setting Achievable goals that challenge you while remaining realistic. And yesterday, we focused on Relevance, to ensure your goals align with your values and bigger picture. Now it’s Friday, and we’re diving into the final piece of the puzzle: Time-Bound SMART Goals. If you prefer listening rather than reading, you can head on over to my Instagram account here, where I have an audiogram that break’s down today’s topic of Time-Bound SMART Goals.

Time-bound goals are about manufacturing a sense of urgency and structure. Without deadlines, even the most specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant goals can drift into the realm of procrastination. To help set you up for success, let’s explore why deadlines can be so important and how you can set them effectively.

Why Time-Bound Goals Matter

Deadlines can be pretty powerful motivators. A realistic and well-planned deadline can help with clarity by having a timeline define when your goal needs to be completed.  It can help with focus, because when you know that your time is limited, you’re more likely to prioritize what matters most. It also helps build momentum. A clear endpoint can encourage you to stay consistent and avoid losing steam. Without a timeframe, goals can feel endless and lack the urgency needed to spark action, especially if there may not be any urgency to begin with. Deadlines create the necessary pressure to move forward.

How to Make Your Goals Time-Bound

1. Set a Realistic Deadline

Choose a deadline that challenges you but is still feasible. Unrealistic timelines can lead to stress and burnout, while overly generous ones can encourage procrastination. Consider the complexity of the goal. Consider your current commitments and resources. And finally, consider the potential obstacles that might arise.

For example, your goal might be to “launch my small business website.” Reframe your goal in a time-bound way and instead make it “complete and launch my website by March 31, dedicating 5 hours per week to its development.”

2. Break It Down

Divide your goal into smaller milestones, each with its own deadline. This creates a roadmap and helps you with the tracking of your progress. It also helps you anticipate what and when to celebrate next, if rewarding yourself for your progress is your thing.

For instance, if your goal is to “plan and host a community workshop by June 30,” you might set the following milestones for yourself:

• By April 15: Finalize the workshop topic and outline.
• By May 15: Secure a venue and finalize social media content to promote the event.
• By June 15: Prepare workshop materials and rehearse delivering your content.

Each step moves you closer to the finish line while keeping the process more manageable.

3. Use Micro-Deadlines

If your goal involves ongoing tasks, set micro-deadlines to maintain momentum. For example, if your goal is to “write a 10,000-word eBook in 12 weeks,” you may want to get more granular, down to the week, by saying “in week 1, I’ll plan the broad strokes of the content and outline the chapters.  Every subsequent week, I’ll focus on writing 1,000 words to ensure quality over quantity.  When I am done with the content, I will take a rest for one week to manufacture the feeling of newness when I go back to it.  In the following week or two, I will go through the content again with a fresh lens to make edits.”  Suddenly, you have small, targeted work packages that help you build your way up to something pretty huge!

4. Consider External Deadlines

Sometimes, external factors can help you establish time-bound goals. Events, seasons, or professional deadlines can provide natural endpoints. For example, if your goal is to “complete my marketing campaign before the holiday shopping season begins,” your deadline could be “finalize all content by November 1,” to ensure that you have what you need to roll out your campaign in time.

Similarly, if you’re a photographer and you want to tap into the graduation genre, then you might consider using the beginning of June as a natural endpoint for your graduation photos marketing campaign, so you can focus on your photo shoots during the month of June.

Other Examples of Time-Bound Goals

Here are some more examples to inspire you:

• Health Goal: “Train for and complete a 5K run by October 1, following a 12-week training plan.”
• Career Goal: “Earn a professional certification by December 31, dedicating 4 hours weekly to study.”
• Personal Development Goal: “Read six books in three months by finishing two books per month.”
• Business Goal: “Develop and launch a new service package by June 30, with bi-weekly progress reviews.”

Overcoming Common Challenges

1. Fear of Deadlines

Some people avoid setting deadlines because they fear failure. But remember, a missed deadline isn’t the end of the road, it’s just a chance to reassess and adjust. Be kind to yourself and stay flexible.

2. Overcommitting

It’s tempting to cram too much into a short period. I do it all the time! But you can avoid this by setting priorities and focusing on one goal at a time. Quality beats quantity.

3. Losing Momentum

If you find yourself slipping, revisit your “why” and adjust your timeline. Micro-deadlines and accountability partners can help reignite your motivation.

Personal Reflection: My Time-Bound Goal

When I set out to launch the Post Production Podcast, I knew that setting a deadline was crucial. Without one, it would have been easy to keep pushing the project to “someday.” My time-bound goal became to “launch the Post Production Podcast by my 40th birthday, February 28, 2025, with four episodes planned and recorded by February 15.”

Having this deadline is helping me stay focused and consistent. Breaking the project into smaller tasks, like scripting episodes and scheduling recording sessions, made the process manageable and is so far ensuring that I hit my launch date. Plus, I have the whole world as my “acountability buddy”… so there’s that for keeping me motivated!

Your Turn: Make It Time-Bound

Think about a goal you’re working on. Ask yourself the following: “what’s a realistic deadline for completing this goal?” “Can I break it into smaller milestones?” And, “how will I hold myself accountable?”

Write down your time-bound goal and start taking action. Share your goal with me in the comments or send me a message. I’d love to hear how you’re doing!

Well everyone, it’s been a slice.  Now you know the basic rules of setting your objectives up for success by making them SMART.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this series, and I hope you keep visiting often for more nuggets of wisdom.  Until the next time, so long!