Goal setting is one of the key skills to achieve academic and personal success.
Studies have shown that students who have set academic goals for themselves are more likely to succeed in their learning. Goals can be short or long term.
Here's a helpful list of success steps for effective goal setting and achievement. We’ve summarized them below:
- Set goals based on something that is very important to you!
- State goals positively. “I will study every night for two hours before doing other tasks” is more positive than “I won’t do other tasks in the evening before studying.”
- Be as specific as possible. A goal should tell you what you will achieve, describe the conditions, and provide a time frame.
- Set your goals high enough to be challenging but reasonable enough to achieve.
- State your goals in writing and keep them out where you can see to remind and motivate you. Telling others about your goals can also help.
- Focus on personal performance verses strictly outcomes. Outcomes can ultimately be affected by circumstances that are beyond your control, but performance is all up to you. For example, a fitness goal to go to the gym five times per week is more productive than a goal to lose five pounds per week. You can control your performance but not necessarily how quickly your body will react.
When you do successfully complete one of your goals, remember to reward your accomplishments and re-evaluate your opportunities for setting new goals!
Use specific, measureable, attainable, relevant and time bound guidelines (S.M.A.R.T.) as a reference point when you are planning your goal setting.
Write down your thoughts on each step, ensuring that your goals are actually feasable and realistic.
Keep this record, revising your goal as time passes.
An old Scottish proverb-
"What may be done at any time will be done at no time"
Good luck!
