Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Dance & Your Personal Life

Have you ever had a dream or wanted to successfully complete a step, but not known how to get there? That's where goal setting comes into play! Setting goals provides us with a map of how to get to where we want to go.

To create a goal it's helpful to use the S.M.A.RT.  goals method, as it helps clarify your goals and holds you more accountable.  To create a S.M.A.R.T. goal you must meet the following criteria:

Specific: What are you trying to achieve?

Measurable: How will you know when you've achieved your goal?

Attainable: Is this possible to achieve?

Relevant: Does this goal help you grow?

Time-Bound: When will you achieve the goal?

To help illustrate this concept, here are two goals that we will test to see if they meet the S.M.A.R.T. goal criteria:

I want to be more flexible.

That seems like a good goal, but lets run it through the criteria to see if it's a S.M.A.R.T. goal: 

Specific: What are you trying to achieve?  More flexibility

Measurable: How will you know when you've achieved your goal? Being more flexible is kinda confusing. Do you want better splits, an archer back, maybe we are talking about flexible feet?

Attainable: Is this possible to achieve? I'm not sure what I am trying to achieve.

Relevant: Does this goal help you grow?  This goal could help me grow, but I am not sure how to get there or what to focus on.

Time-Bound: When will you achieve the goal? This goal doesn't tell me when I will be more flexible.

As you can see this goal seemed like a good goal, but you are left without a clear path of successfully accomplishing it. If you tried to achieve this goal you might be left feeling more confused and frustrated.

Let's try a different goal:

I will be flat on the ground in my right leg split in the six months by stretching every day for 20 mins.

Specific: What are you trying to achieve? A flat right leg split.

Measurable: How will you know when you've achieved your goal? When I am flat on the ground, I will know that I have gotten my split.

Attainable: Is this possible to achieve? It's realistic to assume you could get your split by stretching every day for six months.

Relevant: Does this goal help you grow?  Yes, this is relevant as it does accomplish the overarching goal of becoming more flexible.

Time-Bound: When will you achieve the goal? Yup! You gave yourself six months to accomplish the goal.

This is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, as you have met all the criteria. The next step in goal setting, is to assign action steps to your goal. These action steps are how you are going to go about getting that right leg split. Some examples could be the types of stretches you will complete to get your split, the people who will hold you accountable, or the space or props you will need.

Remember, when making your goals it's always O.K. to ask for help! If you get stuck making your goal or assigning your action steps ask your parents or dance teacher for guidance. Also get curious and look up ways to accomplish your goals online, on Instagram, or by asking your friends. To further understand how to set goals and action steps, check out Sharing the Barre's Goal Setting IGTV  for a complete walkthrough!

Now that you know what a goal is and how to create them, you can also start creating short-term (a week or so), mid-term (about 6 months), and long-term (1+ years) goals. Comment down below what your goals are!