S.M.A.R.T.E.R.(R) Goals
and Quarter 3 2026 prep
Greetings folks, welcome back to Sako’s Sanitarium, my creative journal of sorts. Sometimes i write about my process, sometimes i write little articles about creative wellness, but I try to post ever sunday, or at most by tuesday. This entry took some heavy lifting
It’s no secret that i do the 12 Week Year, and this past week was week thirteen, which i spent recovering from a whirlwind of medical prodding, but last night at 2am I caught up with my bullet journal (I accidentally took June off!) and planned my Quarter 3 of 2026. Which starts tomorrow. I noticed my bujo at the last minute, but we’re a team and it should carry me through next next week, if not through the next three months.
I reviewed the highlights of Quarter 2, and i’m trying something different for Quarter 3. I’ve practiced having the To-Done list in the past for some daily stuff, but i’d never tried it for weekly planning. So we’re gonna try writing down my progress regarding Contigency Plan each week during my Sunday Planning Blocks. The goal next week is that i complete 7 pops by end of day friday.
I give myself (generally) give myself three things to do a day. Some are repeating tasks that happen every week, but I set myself up to work on Contingency Plan and my Client work. Hopefully i’ll finish something before the Quarter is up.
I still feel like talking about my process, so here’s a thing about setting your own goals using the S.M.A.R.T.E.R.(R) system. I hate using the term “goal”, as it’s more like a milestone than anything else, but for ease, i’ll just refer to them as goals for the purpose of just getting down the content.
S - Specific
I work for a platform for artists and web enthusiasts called PopJoy. It is designed to make animated comics the wave of the future. These animated comics, or “pops” are the bread and butter of the site, and there are very few horror stories there: I want to be the horror go-to for PopJoy. So i want to get my pops off the ground. I want 7 pops in the can before i launch next quarter.
You might have have noticed above in the picture of my quarter 3 spread, i mention the 3 Sillies. Since 2020, I’ve been working on and off on my favorite fairytale. The art is quick and cartoony. However: there is no dialogue. Everything is in pictographs. I’m about halfway through the graphic novel, and i want to continue working on it. For explanation’s sake, i’m just going to focus on Contingency Plan for at least the first half of the quarter, so i’ll just talk about about that project.
Be specific about your goal. “I want to be a better writer” is far too broad. “I want to write a short story collection that rocks” is a little more specific.
M - Measurable
I want to end up with 7 pops uploaded.
“I want to be a better writer” is not finite or achievable, (more on that later). There has to be an end to the goal. In order to do that, you might want to be finite in your goal: it would behoove you to be measurable. And remember: Numbers are king. “I want to write a short story collection containing 10 stories that rock” works.
A - Achievable
i can do this if really get the lead out.
“I want to be a better writer” doesn’t have the kind of closure required to make it achievable. Can you even accomplish the thing you’ve set before you? Being Measurable and being Achievable are closely related: if it’s not finite, it can not be achieved. “I want to write 10 short stories by halloween midnight” (I’ll note, it’s the
R - Relevant
This is where we get to the Why of the goal. What is the state you want to be in upon completing this task? Why do you want to write those stories, Cheryl? Will it bring you joy? Will you sell them? Will you do shows? “I will write 10 short stories
Personally, In the end, i want the whole comic on Popjoy, where i can earn money for making my content. The promise of steady income is enticing enough to me, and i want to get this story out before the decade is done. Now that the zombie fever has gone down a bit, i feel like i can be casual regarding my release of the story.
T - Time Bound
How long will it take you to accomplish this task? I think it will take me 5 days. Maybe 7 if i need the extra time. I will have my 7 pops done by friday end of day. There is a deadline. As I am deadline driven, i thrive in the time constraints. Here’s hoping i can do this AND my client work.
“I will write 10 short stories for a horror collection by halloween at midnight.”
E - Evaluate
As you look back on your week, take stock in your wins and your losses. What worked? What didn’t? Are the metrics working for you?
Set regular review points:
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Ask questions like:
Did I meet my target?
What slowed me down?
What worked better than expected?
What habits supported my progress?
Evaluation transforms experience into useful information instead of simply checking a box.
R - Readjust
Paired with Evaluation, Readjustment is merely figuring out how to proceed. Sometimes we deviate from the initial plan outline and recalibrate for the next benchmark, be it quarterly (like mine), monthly, weekly, heck: daily! It’s not quitting, it’s improving your plan.
(R) - Risky
It all depends on who you ask as to what the second R means, so i thought Risky was worth mentioning. While we want it to be achievable, we also want it to be at least a little challenging. What happens if you don’t do the things?
Why S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Works
The biggest advantage of S.M.A.R.T.E.R. is that it treats goal setting as an ongoing process rather than a one-time decision.
Instead of creating a goal and hoping for the best, you build a feedback loop:
Define the goal clearly.
Take action consistently.
Measure progress.
Evaluate the results.
Readjust your approach.
Continue improving until you reach the outcome.
This iterative approach makes S.M.A.R.T.E.R. especially effective for long-term creative projects, businesses, fitness plans, and personal development because it emphasizes continuous learning and adaptation rather than rigid adherence to an initial plan outline.
Thanks for skimming through my little goal setting process. See ya next week!