CASS Workshop Series: Goal-Setting: Preparing For Your Future Center for Academic Support Services
Workshop Objectives Review Goal-Setting Discuss short and long term goals Review the goal setting process Discuss the importance of goal setting How To Write S.M.A.R.T Goals Define the elements of a S.M.A.R.T goal (worksheet) Monitoring goal progression Develop an action/task plan (worksheet) Managing a To-Do List 2
What are goals? Goals- are objectives you are working towards. It is something you want to achieve, have, or do. Long term goals – are a description of what you want for yourself in the future. Short term goals –are intermediate and short term objectives you work towards achieving your long term goals. 3
Overview Of The Goal Setting Process First, create your "big picture“ by visualizing what you want to do with your life in the future. Then, break down this long-term goal into smaller and smaller targets that you must hit in order to reach your long-term goals. Finally, once you have your plan, start working on it to achieve success! 4
Why Is Goal Setting Important? Goals represent expectations, hopes and dreams. Setting goals gives you long- term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses your acquisition of knowledge, and helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life. A goal not properly defined or written down is merely a wish. 5
What Are S.M.A.R.T GOALS? 6
S=SPECIFIC There are two types of goals: general and specific. General goals are basically a blanket statement that only covers the end goal and none of the steps involved along the way. Specific goals will outline a process and possibly a few steps along the way. EXAMPLE General goal: Save enough money to buy a car. Specific goal: Save $500 a month for x months until I can buy a car by x date. 7
M=MEASURABLE A goal should be easy to measure so you can chart your progress along the way. Use actual numbers, target dates, or specific events to indicate when your goal has been achieved. Example I will lose 10 pounds in 30 days. 8
A=ATTAINABLE Pick goals that you are willing to work for and that you're going to stick with. Working toward your goals requires inner motivation, not outer motivation. Your goals should push you past your comfort point but you should still be able to attain them with effort and commitment. Example I will move into my first apartment by age 21. 9
R=RELEVANT/REALISTIC When you create a goal, make sure that it is realistic. Goals should be challenging, not impossible. Avoid setting goals that are not challenging. Try to find the ideal balance between challenging and impossible that works for you. Example After graduation on June 1, 2011, I will start a home- based turn-key business within 1 year. 10
T=TIME BOUND Set an end date that you would like to achieve your goal in. For small goals: days, weeks, and months work just fine. For larger goals, months and years are acceptable. Example I will be married by June 15,
S.M.A.R.T GOAL ACTIVITY Do the goals listed below meet the SMART criteria? I am working in my field as a math teacher by January I will save $1,200 in my savings account. I am going to law school. I will increase my GPA to 2.0 by the end of Summer
MONITORING GOAL PROGRESSION Action Plans- are the actual strategies or steps that you will need to take in order to achieve your goal. Keep in mind that these steps are time sensitive. 13
MONITORING GOAL PROGRESSION A “To- Do” List or Planner –helps to prioritize the task/steps from your action plan so that you complete the most important task first. Monitor your progress by reviewing and updating your To-Do List/Planner on a daily basis. Periodically review the longer term plans, and modify them to reflect your changing priorities and experience. 14
ACTION PLAN ACTIVITY Complete the Action Plan on your SMART Goal Worksheet. 15
Thank you for attending! Q & A Portable behind library 16
Next CASS Workshop: Study Skills: Are you ready for Midterms? ( ) Same place – Same time – Next Week 17