Short term goals: 80 examples and how to set short-term goals you'll actually reach

The short answer: short term goals are goals you can reach in a year or less, like saving $500 for an emergency fund in 90 days or walking 30 minutes five days a week. The best ones are specific, measurable, written down and tied to a date.

• Make it SMART and break it into weekly actions
• Track progress every week; review monthly and adjust
• 80 examples for money, health, work, school and home
• Starter version: set 3 short-term goals in 15 minutes
• Next step: Plan it with the Budget Planner Printable ($5.99).

Short term goals are goals you can reach in a year or less, usually in a few days, weeks or months. Good examples are saving $500 for an emergency fund in 90 days, walking 30 minutes five days a week, paying off one credit card by June or reading one book a month. The best short-term goals are specific, measurable, written down and tied to a date.

The Budget Planner Printable ($5.99) has a "Money goals for the year" page, so you can write your short-term money goals, give each one a deadline and check them off month by month. Browse all of our Printables for more planning pages.

Below you'll find a quick definition, a short term vs long term goals table, 80 short-term goals examples grouped by area of life, a 7-step method for setting them, a starter version you can finish in 15 minutes, and answers to the most common questions.

What are short term goals?

A short-term goal is a target you plan to reach within the next 12 months. Many people think of it in three sizes:

• Very short (1 to 4 weeks): clean out the pantry, start a morning routine, cancel two unused subscriptions.
• Short (1 to 3 months): save $300, finish a beginner course, walk a 5K.
• Up to a year (4 to 12 months): pay off a small debt, save for a trip, finish a certificate.

Short-term goals do two jobs. They're useful on their own, and they're the stepping stones to bigger plans. "Save $1,000 by March 31" is a short-term goal. "Buy a house in five years" is a long-term goal that needs a long list of short-term goals to get there.

Short term vs long term goals

The fix for both risks is to connect them. Write your long-term goal first, then ask, "What do I need to finish this year, this quarter and this month to move toward it?" The answers are your short-term goals. Our goal setting guide walks through that bigger-picture process in more detail.

80 short term goals examples

Use these short-term goals examples as a menu. Pick two or three that fit your season of life, then add your own numbers and dates.

Short term financial goals

1. Build a $500 starter emergency fund in 90 days.
2. Write a monthly budget before January 1 and use it every month.
3. Track every purchase for 30 days.
4. Pay off one credit card by a set date.
5. Cancel subscriptions you haven't used in 60 days.
6. Save $1,000 in the next six months.
7. Open a separate savings account for holiday spending.
8. Check your credit reports and fix any errors.
9. Set up automatic transfers to savings on payday.
10. Do a No-Spend January challenge.
11. Start sinking funds for car repairs, gifts and annual bills.
12. Lower one monthly bill, like phone or insurance.

Personal goals

13. Read one book a month.
14. Write in a journal three nights a week.
15. Learn 20 minutes of a new language each day.
16. Limit social media to 30 minutes a day for a month.
17. Try one new recipe every week.
18. Call or write to a friend each week.
19. Plan one fun, low-cost outing a month.
20. Finish one hobby project you started and put away.
21. Volunteer once a month.
22. Plan your week every Sunday.

Health and fitness goals

23. Walk 30 minutes, five days a week.
24. Drink a glass of water with every meal.
25. Add strength training two days a week.
26. Go to bed at the same time for 30 days.
27. Pack lunch four days a week.
28. Eat a vegetable with every dinner.
29. Book overdue checkups and dental cleanings.
30. Stretch for 10 minutes every morning.
31. Train for and finish a local 5K.
32. Cut back on sweet drinks to one a week.

Career and work goals

33. Update your resume and online profile.
34. Finish one online course or certificate.
35. Ask for feedback from your manager this quarter.
36. Clear your email inbox to zero once a week.
37. Learn one new software skill well.
38. Ask about a raise with notes on your results.
39. Meet one new person in your field each month.
40. Arrive 10 minutes early every day for a month.
41. Lead one meeting or project.
42. Set up a simple filing system for work papers.

Goals for students

43. Turn in every assignment on time this semester.
44. Raise one grade by a letter.
45. Study for 25 minutes, then rest 5, four times a day.
46. Use a planner for every class.
47. Meet with a teacher or advisor once a month.
48. Apply for three scholarships before the deadline.
49. Read for fun 20 minutes a day.
50. Join one club or group.
51. Learn to cook five simple meals.
52. Save a set amount from every paycheck from a part-time job.

Home and organizing goals

53. Declutter one drawer or shelf a day for 30 days.
54. Make a weekly cleaning schedule and stick to it for a month.
55. Plan meals every week for a month.
56. Set up a family calendar everyone can see.
57. Clean out the fridge every Friday.
58. Organize important papers in one binder.
59. Donate one bag of items each month.
60. Make a list of household bills and due dates.
61. Finish one small repair you've been putting off.
62. Set up a coat, key and mail drop spot by the door.

Relationship and family goals

63. Plan a weekly date night or friend night.
64. Eat dinner together at the table four nights a week.
65. Hold a 20-minute family money meeting each month.
66. Write thank-you notes within a week of every gift.
67. Put phones away during meals.
68. Plan one family day trip this season.
69. Learn one new thing about a relative and write it down.
70. Send birthday cards on time all year.

Holiday and seasonal goals

71. Set a holiday budget before you buy a single gift.
72. Finish holiday shopping by December 10.
73. Save $50 a month toward next year's holidays.
74. Pay off holiday spending by February 28.
75. Plan a New Year budget the last week of December.
76. Pick three New Year's resolutions and break each into monthly steps.
77. Take down and pack holiday decor with labels by mid-January.
78. Plan a low-cost winter getaway with a set budget.
79. Make a list of gift ideas all year so December is easy.
80. Do a full home reset in the first two weeks of January.

How to set short-term goals in 7 steps

1. Start with what matters. Write the three areas of life you most want to change this year, such as money, health and work.
2. Pick one goal per area. More than three at once is hard to keep up with. You can add new ones as you finish old ones.
3. Make it SMART. Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. "Save money" becomes "Save $600 by April 30." Our SMART goals template has fill-in examples.
4. Break it into weekly actions. $600 in 17 weeks is about $35 a week. A habit you can do this week is easier to start than a number on a page.
5. Write it where you'll see it. Put goals in your planner, on the fridge or in your budget, not just in your head.
6. Track progress every week. The American Psychological Association reported on a review of 138 studies that found people who checked their progress more often were more likely to reach their goals, especially when they wrote it down or shared it. A check mark, a running total or a savings goal tracker is enough.
7. Review monthly and adjust. If a goal is too easy, raise it. If it's too hard, shrink it. Celebrate each finished goal with something small and free.

Short term financial goals: a closer look

Money goals are the most common short-term goals, and they work best when each one has a number, a date and a home.

For emergency savings, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's emergency fund guide suggests looking at the unexpected expenses you've had before to choose a target, and notes that even a small amount set aside helps you recover faster. Our guide on how to build an emergency fund walks through the steps.

If your short-term money goals include planned costs like holidays, car repairs or annual fees, the Sinking Funds Tracker ($4.99) splits each one into a monthly amount and shows your progress. Learn how sinking funds work in our sinking funds guide, and see our bigger guide on how to set financial goals.

Short term health goals that are easy to measure

Health goals stick best when you can count them. The CDC's activity guidelines for adults recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as 30 minutes a day, five days a week, plus muscle-strengthening activity at least two days a week. That turns "get in shape" into a clear short-term goal: walk 30 minutes, five days a week, for the next eight weeks, and add two short strength sessions.

Starter version: set 3 short-term goals in 15 minutes

Short on time? Do this today.

1. Minutes 1 to 5: Write one money goal, one health goal and one personal goal.
2. Minutes 6 to 10: Add a number and a date to each one.
3. Minutes 11 to 13: Write the first action for this week under each goal.
4. Minutes 14 to 15: Put a weekly check-in on your calendar, like Sunday at 7 PM.

A finished starter example might look like this:

• Money: Save $300 by February 28. This week: set up a $25 automatic transfer each payday.
• Health: Walk 30 minutes, five days a week, through March. This week: pick a route and a time.
• Personal: Read one book a month in January, February and March. This week: choose book one.

Why short-term goals fail (and quick fixes)

• Too many at once. Fix: three goals max, then add more as you finish.
• No number or date. Fix: rewrite each goal with "how much" and "by when."
• Out of sight, out of mind. Fix: write goals in your planner and check them weekly.
• All or nothing thinking. Fix: a missed week isn't a failed goal. Restart the next day.
• No link to a bigger plan. Fix: tie each goal to a long-term goal so it feels worth it.
• Too big. Fix: cut it in half. Finishing a smaller goal beats quitting a big one.

Turn short-term goals into a monthly habit

The easiest way to keep going is a monthly rhythm. On the first of each month, review last month's goals, mark what you finished and set the next one or two. Our monthly goals guide has a simple review checklist, and the 12 week year method is a good fit if you like working in quarters.

Want all of your money goals, budget and sinking funds in one place for the new year? The Ultimate Budget Bundle is $19.99 (reg. $46.42 bought separately) and includes the Budget Planner Printable, the Sinking Funds Tracker and six more budget tools. See all of our Bundles.