Do you know how to set goals? Well, if you are having trouble in answering to that question, you are not alone. Many of us do not know how to set goals and even if we do, we do not do it as it’s supposed to be done. That happens because many of us don’t even know that goal setting is a skill that is something we should know about, especially as a student. Goal setting should be a mandatory practice whether it comes to studies, exam preparations, assignment homework or any other academic task.
When it comes to student goal setting, individuals should take realistic steps in order to achieve them. Several experts believe that using the SMART goal setting strategy can help students come up with a specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and a timely plan which can be easier to achieve. With the help of this goal setting strategy, students can come up with reasonable and practical goals and objectives to help them stay on the track. These goals help you build a value system for your academic career too. Students should understand that value system and goal setting go hand in hand.
If you do not know how to set your goals effectively and build an effective value system of your life, you need not worry as this practice can be easily learnt through a few techniques which we will discuss in this blog post.
When you set goals, you build an entire value system that can benefit you in the long run with a vision or dream for the future. Students are highly advised to set goals and objectives for their future and academic journey including courses and assignments so that they can enjoy a successful academic career. You, as young people will begin the journey of life to start building your goal setting skills. These objectives will not only help you serve throughout the life, but it will build them further to mold your future into the one that you desire.
Both teachers and parents can encourage goal setting among students and children. However, the significance of this skill lies more in the inclusion of school’s curriculum. The educational world is an amazing platform to introduce children to objective and goal setting, lay out the outline and foundations for efficient goal setting, and start practicing settings and making efforts towards personally meaningful objectives.
When the practice of goal setting will be included in the curriculum, it will include instructions to set the objectives and teach them the techniques and mechanics of goal setting. However, it will also assist them in establishing belief in themselves and give them early wins. Teachers know best how it works with students as they recognize their self-worth, self-confidence, and self-belief when they learn to set goals and achieve them too. According to a research, when students are being taught about goal setting, it likely benefits both the institution and the student. The benefits are two-fold as students see their objectives in a structured manner and the institution also becomes more effective at facilitating learning.
In addition to helping students in believing in themselves, the goal setting habit sets them up for success in the classes and many other ways. Some of the generic benefits include the following:
• Increasing awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses
• Improving one’s self-image
• Facilitating effective visualization
• Providing a successful experience
• Clarifying the path ahead
• Building responsibility of one’s self
• Encouraging prioritization
• Defining reality and separating it from wishful thinking
• Improving decision making
While those were generic benefits from the goal setting practice, here are a few specific benefits for those students who involve in smart goal setting and strive to attain them:
• Providing a clearer path and strategic direction which majority of the students are either seeking or trying to nail down
• Facilitating more effective decision making through better focus, self-knowledge, and improved direction
• Assisting students and children in clarifying what is important to them and where they should build their focus
• Giving students a positive experience of personal satisfaction and achievement when they reach a goal
• Acting as a powerful motivator by giving them something to aspire for and hope for
• Helping children in finding a sense of purpose in their lives and meaning for a living
• Permitting children to take more of an active role to take the hold of their own future
If you want to know what it takes to create meaningful goals that can also help students in achieving, you should read follow the below tips to understand the goal setting procedure.
• Follow the SMART technique to create your goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely
• Draft clear, specific, and measurable goals
• Create a tailored action plan for each goal you want to achieve
• Read and re-read your goals and visualize to accomplish them
• Reflect on your progress to see if you are on the target
• Revise the action plans if required
• Celebrate your accomplishments when you achieve milestones
SMART is the criteria to guide individuals to set their objectives and goals accordingly. It comes with specific aims to help students achieve them in the required time period. Understand how you can come up with SMART goals below:
Specific – Goals should be clear, well-defined and unambiguous. For instance if you decide to get a good grade in any of your course, you should specifically define a “good” grade i.e. A-grade.
Measurable – Objectives should have a criteria that measure your progress towards goal accomplishment. Following the previous example, if you aim to get an A grade, it can be measured from your report card by the end of the semester.
Attainable/Achievable – Goals should be possible. For instance, aiming for an A grade is achievable as long as you would work hard and study.
Realistic – Aims should be within your reach and relevant to your life purpose. If you aim for a good grade, it is relevant to your academic journey so it’s realistic and relevant to your life.
Time-Limited – Goals must have a timeline, including the starting date and a deadline in order to create a sense of urgency. Continuing the aforementioned example, you should aim for an A grade in your next progress report or by the end of the term.
Final Word
Now that you know the importance of goal setting in your life, you should consider following the SMART strategy to draft your aims and objectives and set attainable goals for your life. If you have any pending essay or assignment, you can consult our team of experts and click on the write my essay option to get your homework done on time!
