How to Stop Procrastinating: A Simple Guide to Mastering Difficult Tasks and Breaking the Procrastination Habit

by S.J. Scott

Exercise #4: Set Your Quarterly S.M.A.R.T. Goals We often procrastinate on tasks that don’t provide instant gratification. However, if you attach each task to an immediate goal, you increase the odds that you’ll be motivated enough to get started. The simplest way to do this is to set S.M.A.R.T. goals for every quarter (i.e., three months) instead of the yearlong goals that most people set. S.M.A.R.T. stands for: Specific; Measurable; Attainable; Relevant; and Time-bound. You can create these quarterly goals by completing a simple six-action exercise: Focus on five projects and commit to focusing only on these activities. Create goals with an immediate deadline (I suggest every three months). Use a weekly review to track and adjust your goals. Turn each focus into a project by clearly identifying all the steps you need to complete. Review your goals to remind yourself of the long-term benefit of taking action on the activities you might want to procrastinate on. Evaluate your goals every quarter and use this feedback to make more effective goals for the next three months.