A goal without a plan is nothing but a wish!
You might have long term education or career goals:
- To impress parents, teachers or peers
- To become a skilled plumber or doctor
- To be rich enough to donate your first million to India
You need to work out what is really important to you, so you can decide what is really your goal. You also should have goals for your health, cultural, family and spiritual life.
Whatever these goals are they can not be attained unless you set short and medium term goals to take you on your way. Start with a goal in one area of your life.
- Work out what will be the advantages if you achieve your goal.
- Work out what steps you need to take to reach it.
- Work out what obstacles will make it difficult.
- Work out strategies to overcome these.
- And you have to write them down!
These very short term goals have to be SMART Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-limited
• SPECIFIC: Describes what you want to accomplish with as much detail as possible. Outline the steps you need to do it.
Eg Set up a study timetable on a sheet that can be copied to your bedroom wall and your homework dairy, and stick to it! Allow for family, job, sport, and personal time. Make changes as necessary.
• MEASURABLE: Describes your goal in terms that can clearly be evaluated.
Eg. Have printed copy in room and homework diary. Trial it. Record how well it was followed.
• ATTAINABLE A goal you know you are actually capable of obtaining with a little stretch!
Eg There is only need for effort, energy, discipline and time.
Eg. Analyse how time is spent now and see when study can really fit in. Work out how to avoid distractions. Try sticking to the plan.
• RELEVANT Make sure it fits in with what you’re trying to do.
Eg Making the timetable “pretty” with borders and pictures won’t help stick to it!
• TIME-LIMITED: Break longer term goals into shorter ones and clearly specify target completion dates.
Eg By the end of this week set up the timetable. Trial it for the following week. Make changes as needed. Stick to it for a month.
Don't forget to reward yourself if you achieve your goal for that first week. Make it a reward you don't have unless you do! Possible Rewards (Mount Holyoke College)
If you don't manage to achieve it, work out why. Learn from your mistakes. Failure is an indispensable prerequisite for success. Adapt your plan.
"Goals are dreams with deadlines." Diana Scharf Hunt
Rosemary Horton Teacher Librarian
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