Journal # 3 Write down THREE goals that you have for the remainder of the school year. Write down ONE that you wish to accomplish in the next 5 years.

Wishes or Goals? “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, poet and author) “To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then to hold to that action till the goal is reached. The key is action.” (Michael Hanson, economics professor)

A Roadmap for Goal Setting Long Term: Short Term: A goal that you can accomplish in a Fairly short period of time. Ex. Finishing a paper Ex. Making a sports team Long Term vs. Short Term A goal that you intend to reach over An extended amount of time. Ex. Training for a marathon Ex. Graduating college

A Roadmap for Goal Setting Step Three: Step Four: List the steps necessary to reaching your goal. Identify sources of help and support. Step Five: Set a reasonable time frame. Evaluate progress with timed check points. Step Six: Reward yourself for achieving your goal.

A Goal With a Plan: Long-Term Goal Step One: Pat’s long-term goal “I want to be a professional basketball player.”

A Goal With a Plan: Short-Term Goals Step Two: Pat’s short-term goals  Get as much practice and game time as possible.  Maintain a positive attitude toward individual and team efforts.  Avoid unhealthy choices that distract me from my basketball goal.

A Goal With a Plan: Tasks (Part One) Step Three: Pat’s tasks Get as much practice and game time as possible. Practice daily. Attend any basketball camps available. Join a travel team. Make the school basketball team each year during high school. Maintain a positive attitude toward individual and team efforts. Respect coaches and teammates. Talk to the coach if I have questions or problems. Support my teammates, even if they get more play time than I do. Focus on being a team player, not an individual star.

A Goal With a Plan: Tasks (Part Two) Step Three: Pat’s tasks (continued) Avoid unhealthy choices that distract me from my basketball goal. Eat nutritious meals as recommended by my coaches. Refuse to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs that can hamper my physical performance. Delay sexual intimacy until I’m prepared to deal with the possible negative consequences that could result. Affirm myself every time I make a healthy choice.

A Goal With a Plan: Tasks (Part Two) Step Three: Pat’s tasks (continued) Avoid unhealthy choices that distract me from my basketball goal. Eat nutritious meals as recommended by my coaches. Refuse to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs that can hamper my physical performance. Delay sexual intimacy until I’m prepared to deal with the possible negative consequences that could result. Affirm myself every time I make a healthy choice.

A Goal With a Plan: Measure Progress Step Four: Measure Progress  Keep a record of my practice and play time.  Keep a record of my game statistics to monitor improvement.  Monitor my attendance at practice and games.  Notice if I maintain a positive attitude toward coaches and teammates. If I don’t, talk to the coach to resolve the problem.  Identify many positive choices I made, and that I avoided negative choices.

In short…. 1. Write clear and measurable goals. 2. Create a specific action plan for each goal. 3. Read your goals daily and visualize yourself accomplishing them. 4. Reflect on your progress to see if you are on target. 5. Revise your action plans if needed. 6. Celebrate your accomplishments!