Setting clear and specific goals completes effective planning. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attractive, Realistic and Time phased.

S: SPECIFIC & STRETCHING
A goal needs to be specific. Unclear goals lead to vague attempts to
achieve them. Specific, stretching goals extend you and in most cases lead to higher achievement.

M: MEASURABLE
You need to be able to evaluate your progress. Determining how to measure your goals can be difficult but try to keep it as simple as possible.

A: ATTRACTIVE
If you don't want it, you're unlikely to put in a sustained effort. Your goals need your buy in, so be clear on your cause behind the goal.

R: REALISTIC
You must be capable of achieving the goal, is it manageable in the time frame and with the current resources you have at your disposal?

T: TIME-FRAMED
You need to have an appropriate time frame in mind. If you are not able to assign a clear deadline within your goal, you may need to make your goal more specific. You need to have benchmarks along the way to help keep you on track.

Some Useful Tips:
To ensure that your goals are "SMART", ask yourself the following questions and make sure that the measures and timeframes are precise in the way you have written your goals.