Free SMART goals template PDF: Step-by-step worksheet to write better goals

Many people struggle with setting goals that actually lead to success.

Maybe you’ve set a New Year’s resolution only to abandon it a few weeks later. Or you’ve created a business objective that sounded great in theory but lacked clear direction. The problem? Most goals are either too vague, too unrealistic, or too difficult to track.

“Vague goals are the enemy of progress.”
– Christina Wodtke, Author of Radical Focus

Without a clear structure, it’s easy to lose motivation, get overwhelmed, or simply forget about your goals. This is where the SMART goals framework becomes a game-changer. Instead of setting loose, undefined aspirations, SMART goals provide a step-by-step approach to goal setting, making it easier to stay focused, track progress, and achieve results.

A SMART goals template acts as a guide to help you define your goals in a way that makes them actionable and measurable. Whether you’re looking to improve productivity, advance in your career, grow your business, or achieve personal milestones, using a SMART goal worksheet can help you set realistic, structured goals that keep you accountable.

To make this process even easier, we’ve created a SMART goals template free download, available as a SMART goals template PDF, so you can start setting clear and effective goals today.

But first: What does SMART stand for? Let’s break it down.

What does SMART stand for?

Now that we’ve covered why traditional goal setting often fails, let’s dive into what makes SMART goals different.

SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Each element ensures that your goal is clear, actionable, and trackable, increasing the likelihood of success. Let’s break down what each part means:

Specific – Clearly define what you want to achieve.
Measurable – Make sure there’s a way to track progress.
Achievable – Set realistic but challenging targets.
Relevant – Align your goal with your role and company objectives.
Time-bound – Set a deadline to stay accountable.

Example:

“Increase website traffic by 20% to 160,000 weekly visits by the end of Q2 through SEO improvements and content updates”

(Learn more about SMART goals and see more SMART goals examples)

Why use a SMART goals template?

Setting goals is easy—sticking to them is the hard part. Many people set ambitious targets but struggle to follow through because their goals lack structure, clarity, and accountability. This is where a SMART goals template becomes a powerful tool.

A SMART goal worksheet helps you break down your goals into clear, actionable steps, ensuring they are:

Well-defined – You know exactly what you’re working toward.
Trackable – You can measure progress and adjust as needed.
Realistic – You’re setting yourself up for success, not frustration.
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Using a SMART goals template PDF makes goal setting faster, easier, and more effective. Instead of starting from scratch, you have a structured framework to guide you, whether you’re setting personal, career, or business goals.

Who can benefit from a SMART goals template?

A SMART goal worksheet is useful for:

Professionals & entrepreneurs – Set clear business objectives and career growth plans.
Students & educators – Define academic goals and study strategies.
Fitness & personal growth enthusiasts – Achieve health, financial, and lifestyle goals.
Teams & managers – Align goals with company objectives and track performance.

No matter your goal, having a SMART goals template PDF ensures you’re on the right track.

How to write SMART goals using a worksheet

Now that you understand why SMART goals are effective, it’s time to put them into action. A SMART goal worksheet helps you structure your goals properly, ensuring they are clear, measurable, and achievable.

Using a SMART goals template PDF, you can break down your goal into specific sections, making it easy to track progress and stay accountable. Follow these steps to write an effective SMART goal using a worksheet:

Step 1: Download the SMART goals worksheet

Before you begin, grab a SMART goals template free download to fill in as you work through this process. Having a structured format makes goal setting easier and more efficient.

Download the SMART goal worksheet PDF

Step 2: Define your goal using the SMART criteria

Use the SMART framework to structure your goal properly:

Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?

Example: Instead of saying, “Start my own business,” a specific goal would be:

Start a business selling custom-designed graphic tees

Measurable: How will you track progress?

Example: Instead of “Start selling t-shirts,” make it measurable:

Launch a custom graphic tees shop by making $1M in revenue

Achievable: Is this goal realistic given your resources and time?

Example: Instead of setting an unrealistic goal like “Make $1M in revenue selling graphic tees” make it achievable:

Make my first $1,000 in revenue selling custom graphic tees within 2 months.

Relevant: Does this goal align with your bigger objectives?

Example: Instead of “I want to learn a new skill,” make it relevant:

Learn how to screen print so I can print my own t-shirts for my store and cut down production costs

Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal?

Example: Instead of “I want to start a side business,” set a deadline:

Make a good amount of revenue before December 1st, so I can reinvest that money into marketing for the holiday push

Step 3: Write your SMART goal in the worksheet

Now that you’ve defined each part of your goal, combine them into a clear and actionable statement in your SMART goal worksheet.

Example of a complete SMART goal:

Launch my custom t-shirt business and make $1,000 of revenue by December 1st.

Step 4: Review and adjust as needed

Once you’ve written your SMART goal, review it to make sure it’s realistic and motivating. Ask yourself:

Is this goal clear and well-defined?
Can I track my progress?
Do I have the resources and time to achieve it?
Does it align with my long-term plans?

If necessary, adjust your goal before committing to it.

Step 5: Set action items and create a check-in schedule

Writing down your SMART goal is only the beginning—the real progress happens when you take consistent action and track your progress. To stay on track, you need two things:

Action items – Small steps that move you toward your goal.
A check-in schedule – Regular progress reviews to keep yourself accountable.

1. Create action items for your SMART goal

Once your SMART goal is defined in the worksheet, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. This makes big goals feel less overwhelming and helps you build momentum.

Example goal: “I will launch my online store in three months after completing my product research.”

Action items:

Research and choose a product niche (Week 1).
Set up an online store and purchase a domain (Week 2-3).
Source products and test logistics (Week 4-6).
Develop a marketing plan (Week 7-8).
Launch and promote the store (Week 9-12).
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By mapping out these specific action steps, you’ll have a clear roadmap for success.

2. Set a check-in schedule for accountability

Too often, goals are set and forgotten (#setandforget). To stay motivated and track progress, schedule regular check-ins where you assess how things are going along the way and maintain focus and urgency.

Based on your SMART goal and when you’ve set your deadline, you want to set a cadence of check-ins that matches that.

Check-in options:

Daily: Quick 5-minute reflection to ensure you’re on track. This is great if your goal has a short lifecycle like a week or a month. Keep these check-ins quick and easy so they don’t feel too cumbersome.
Weekly: Take 10-15 minutes at the start or end of every week to assess progress. What did you achieve this week? What action items did you complete? What’s the plan for next week? This is great if your lifecycle is a month, quarter, or even more.
Monthly: If your goal is completed over an entire year, or more, consider monthly check-ins. This is a good cadence for those big ambitious goals that take longer to see the results of.

Tip: No matter how long your goals are, we never recommend check-ins with more than a month gap between. Remember that if you’re serious about this goal you want to maintain that focus on it!

For extra accountability, you can do a combination of all of these. Track quick notes on a daily basis, a longer review weekly, and a full assessment at the end of each month. This is up to you, as it can also be a distraction if the process becomes too cumbersome.

Track your SMART goals using an accountability app

Setting a goal is one thing—sticking to it is another. In the previous section, we’ve laid out how to set action items and do check-ins but it can be quite a process to set up and stick to without the right tools.

The good thing is, there’s a ton of accountability apps out there that help you automate the tedious parts of accomplishing your biggest SMART goals.

Some tools that are great for accountability:

Tability – A complete OKRs and goal tracking platform for teams and businesses.
Habitica – Gamifies personal goal tracking for an engaging habit-building experience.
Strides – Track progress across your personal goals and build habits easily.

(See our complete list of the best accountability apps)

Accountability apps provide automation, reminders, and real-time tracking, making it easier to stay on top of your progress. Instead of relying solely on willpower, these tools help you build lasting habits and ensure you’re making measurable progress toward your goals.

A great accountability app will help you stay accountable to your SMART goals with:

Automations and structure around proper goal setting and progress tracking
Scheduled reminders and notifications to keep your goals top of mind
Friends and team transparency to share the load or keep you accountable (nothing stronger than the power of peer pressure!)
Automated reporting, insights, and analytics so you know you’re making great progress!
Time and habit tracking
Integrations with other tools where you do your work

Conclusion: Bring your goals to life with a SMART goals template

Setting goals is easy—achieving them requires structure, commitment, and consistency. That’s why using a SMART goals template can make all the difference. Instead of vague, unstructured ambitions, SMART goals help you create clear, actionable plans that are easier to track and accomplish.

While a SMART goal worksheet helps you define your goals, tracking them is what keeps you on track. Whether you prefer a SMART goals template PDF for manual tracking or an accountability tool for automated reminders and insights, having a system in place is key to staying motivated.

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