**[[SMART]]** is a method for creating well-defined tasks, goals, and objectives. It is an acronym that often stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. ^about There are many variants of both the individual letters (e.g. *Realistic* instead of *Relevant*) as well as expansions to the acronym (e.g. SMART*ER*). It is an abstract framework. No variant is wrong. One widely-used variant is presented below. A task, goal, or objective using the SMART method should: > **Specific** - be clear and unambiguous to everyone involved. > **Measurable** - have a way to gauge progress and determine completion (we should be able to tell if things are going well; we should know when we are done). > **Achievable** - be not only feasible, but practical and motivational (the criteria and conditions should be within our limitations). > **Relevant** - deliberately advance a grander purpose (a project, a change, a duty, a value; a task's completion should never be its own motivation). > **Time-Bound** - be constrained by a deadline and/or duration (it must be complete by a defined date and/or after a defined level of effort; the thing you seek cease being a discrete task, goal, or objective if you devote endless and unbound hours to it).