Set a smart goal

1.       Make your goal as accurate as possible. Having a vaguely defined goal can make it difficult to follow your efforts and track your progress. However, having a clear and well-defined goal will help you stay driven and know how far you have come.
Your goal should be as clear and operational as possible. Remember to focus on a process goal or a result goal. Keep in mind, however, that you can work on multiple goals at once. For example, you might have a result goal of getting an "A" in English and dealing with the goals along the way that help you earn that." For example, instead of just saying that your goal is to go through your math class, determine what you hope to accomplish. Do you want to become more proficient in mathematics (a process goal) or earn a good grade (a result goal)?

2.       Make sure your progress is measurable. Whenever you set a goal for yourself, it's important to recognize how you've progressed to work on it. That's why you should always set goals with clear and measurable progression marks and keep track of your efforts every step of the way.
Determine in advance how you will measure success. Ask yourself, "How will I know when I have accomplished my goal?" When you hit checkpoints along the road, you can attain success. You can even use a reward system. Choose short- and long-term measures of success. For example, you risk measuring success in the short term by looking at how many studies and assignments you've completed in a week and in the long run by looking at how your grades improve over the semester.

3.       Decide on the action-oriented steps to achieve your goal. Even a good, well-defined goal could be difficult to achieve without a clear plan of action. Once you've defined your goal, be sure to include action-oriented steps as part of your development goal. This way, you will know what you are trying to accomplish and, most importantly, how you will get there.
Make it very clear how you plan to attain your goal. Having action-oriented steps means developing clear guidelines that encourage what you need to do (precisely) at each step of the way. Think about the steps your goal will require, both short-term and long-term. Focus on what you will need to do specifically. For example, action-oriented steps could include completing your assignments in advance, reviewing your grades every day after class, and arranging a meeting with your instructor.

4.        Make sure your goal is realistic. It's important to dream big, but it's also important to know what you can realistically accomplish with the materials you currently own and the timeframe you've given. Do not bite more than you can chew, but at the same time, do not give yourself too easy a task.
An example of a realistic goal would be to improve your one-letter course year before the end of the semester. An unrealistic goal, by comparison, would be to transform an F into an A by the end of the semester. Be aware of what could potentially hinder your success and plan accordingly so that these obstacles do not hinder your progress in achieving your goal. For example, if your goal is to get a good score on a trial, you'll want to be aware of other tasks that can affect the time you spend working on the trial.

5.        Give yourself a reasonable amount of time. If you work in a school calendar, the end of this semester could be the end of your period. However, there is still a lot of flexibility in terms of what can be done and when it needs to be done. Determine when your goal must be completed ahead of time. Once you have a closing deadline, work your way upside down to determine when you need to start your work and when various steps along the way need to be met. For example, if you work within the one-semester period, you can decide that you will get your goal before the end of the final. This means working backward to determine what needs to be completed and when.