Turning Big Dreams into Manageable Goals
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
SMART Goals + Your BuJo/Planner
Goal setting is an essential part of achieving personal and professional growth. But without a plan, your dreams are just that, dreams. One proven way to turn ambitions into attainable outcomes is by using SMART goals along with your bullet journal or planner.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Each element is a necessary step to help you get to your end goal.
- Specific: Define your goal clearly. What is the exact outcome you want?
- Measurable: Establish a way to measure your progress. How will you know when you’re at your goal?
- Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic. Do you have the resources and skills to get to your end goal?
- Relevant: Align the goal with your long-term goals. Why does this goal matter to you?
- Time-bound: Set a deadline. When do you want to achieve this goal?
By structuring your goals using the SMART framework, you create a solid foundation from which to work.
Using a BuJo or Planner to Keep On Track
A bullet journal (BuJo) or planner can be a great tool in helping you stay on track. Here’s how:
1. Increased Clarity
A bullet journal allows you to write your goals down in a clear and organized way. When you take the time to lay out your SMART goals, you get a clear picture of what you want to achieve. For example, instead of writing “get fit,” a SMART goal would be “lose 10 pounds in 3 months by exercising three times a week and tracking my diet.”
2. Baby Steps
After setting up your SMART goals, your bujo can help you break these down into even smaller tasks. If your goal is to complete a project by a deadline, you can list the individual tasks such as “research topics,” “draft outline” and “write first draft,” giving each item a date to help keep you on track.
3. Tracking Your Progress
With your planner, you can create a system to track your progress. This could just be a simple checklist or a more elaborate chart. Measuring your small wins along the way helps give you the motivation and keeps you on your timeline. Check out this free goal setting worksheet I created to get you started!

4. Reflecting and Adjusting
A bullet journal is not just for tracking things; it’s also a space for reflection. Every once in a while you should review your goals and take note of your progress. If something isn’t working, change the way you’re going about the task.
5. Increase Accountability
Writing down your goals makes them more real. When you write things in your journal, you increase your accountability to yourself. Regularly check-ins can reinforce your commitment and help motivate you to keep going, even if roadblocks appear!
Transforming a goal from wishful thinking into reality requires a well thought out approach and SMART goals provide just that framework. By using your bullet journal or planner, you can break down these objectives into actionable tasks, track your progress and adjust your strategies as needed. Happy planning!