Summary
Why SMART Goals Break You—and What to Use Instead
You know how to set goals.
You’ve probably used SMART goals before: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
And on paper, they sound great.
But in real life—especially when you’re already overloaded—they create pressure, not progress.
They’re rigid. Performance-focused. Often disconnected from how you actually feel.
And when you’re running on fumes, pressure is the last thing you need.
That’s why I threw them out.
And built something better.
Enter: FAST Goals
I created the FAST model during a season where I needed traction without the burnout.
Nothing fluffy. Nothing aspirational. Just a clear, compassionate path forward.
FAST goals are designed for high-achieving humans who crave clarity but are done spinning.
FAST = Feel-Aligned, Actionable Now, Short-Term (7–21 Days), Tracked Simply
Let’s break it down.
F = Feel-Aligned
If your goals don’t feel like you, you won’t follow through.
Forget goals that look good on paper but drain the life out of you.
FAST goals are rooted in how you want to feel and who you’re becoming.
They create internal traction—not just external validation.
Ask:
→ Does this move me toward how I want to feel this month?
→ Is this aligned with who I’m becoming—not just what I “should” do?
A = Actionable Now
Not someday. Not when the stars align. Now.
A FAST goal is something you can take action on immediately—with the energy and resources you already have.
It’s not waiting on another meeting, another tool, or a perfect plan.
Ask:
→ Can I take one meaningful step toward this today?
→ If not, what needs to change to make it actionable now?
S = Short-Term (7–21 Days)
Long timelines kill momentum. FAST goals move fast.
These are not 6-month stretch goals.
They’re 1- to 3-week sprints that create momentum you can see—and feel.
Why 7–21 days? Because that’s long enough to matter, but short enough to stay flexible.
Ask:
→ Can I complete this in 3 weeks or less?
→ What would success look like by next Friday?
T = Tracked Simply
If tracking your goal feels like a second job, the system is broken.
You don’t need a color-coded dashboard.
You need a check-in process that fits your life, takes under 5 minutes, and helps you learn as you go.
FAST goals track progress in the simplest possible way—while still creating awareness and insight.
Ask:
→ What’s the easiest way to track this: checkbox, emoji, 1-sentence journal?
→ Am I tracking outcomes—or what’s actually working?
Why FAST Works When Everything Else Doesn’t
When you’re overwhelmed, SMART goals feel like weights.
FAST goals? They feel like forward motion.
They’re built for real life:
- Where your energy changes daily.
- Where life throws curveballs.
- Where you still want to win—but not at the cost of your sanity.
FAST goals give you a runway, not a leash.
They’re flexible. They’re forgiving.
And they’re built to evolve as you do.
Want to Try It?
Take any current goal and run it through the FAST filter:
- Feel-Aligned: Does this reflect how I want to feel?
- Actionable Now: Can I take action today with what I’ve got?
- Short-Term: Will this move in 7–21 days?
- Tracked Simply: Can I track this in less than 5 minutes a day?
If the answer is no—rewrite it.
This isn’t failure. This is a system reset.
Final Word
You don’t need more goals.
You need better ones.
Ones that feel like you.
Fit your life.
And move you forward without taking you down.
SMART goals were built for a different season.
FAST goals were built for this one.
The one where you’re still standing.
Still dreaming.
Still daring to go all in—without burning out.
Let’s move. FAST.
—Sterling Phoenix
