This document provides strategies for effective goal setting to help achieve academic success. It recommends clearly defining specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals should support long-term goals and allow progress to be evaluated through checkpoints. Potential barriers should be identified and addressed, and alternative paths considered. Self-reward encourages continued progress toward goals.

1. Targeting your success
How to make your goals a reality

2. How do you set realistic goals?
Goal setting is an important skill that will help you effectively plan for
your academic success.
It does require effort, persistence , and determination to make sure
the goals you set are achieved.
Use the following slides to give you some useful strategies.

3. Principles of Goal Setting
Clearly Work out your Work out the
define your “plan of BLOCKERS to
goals . Know attack ” – how you achieving
exactly what are you going your goals and
you want to to achieve plan to deal with
achieve. them? them.

4. Principles of Goal Setting cont.
Think of Have a Create
alternative timeframe in CHECKPOINT
paths to which you want S along the way
achieving your to achieve your so you can
goals. goals. gauge how you
are going.

5. Principles of Goal Setting cont.
Start NOW Always know that Reward
and build on you can change yourself
the direction at any along the way
momentum…… time if things for your
The starting is aren’t working out achievements.
the hardest the way you
part. planned.

6. Short-term and long term goals
Short-term goals Long term goals
Your short-term goals should Set these first so you know the
support your long-term goals. general direction you are heading.
They will be the smaller steps on They will not be as specific as your
the path to your final destination. short-term goals….but they will
They may change as you go....just give focus to the more specific
keep the end in mind. actions you will take as short-term
goals.

7. Long Term Goals
Putting long term goals in place tells
your mind, body and spirit that this is
what you want to achieve. You will be
amazed at how all of these things
conspire then to make your goals a
reality.
THE TRICK IS TO BELIEVE
THAT THEY CAN BE ACHIEVED

8. Short Term Goals
These are the smaller steps you take on
the way to achieving the BIG PRIZE at
the end.
Success in a short term Not achieving a short
goal lets you know that term goal only means
you are on the right you need to rethink your
track. It also gives you strategies. Do not see it
the motivation and drive as a “bad’ thing. You
to keep going. just need to refocus and
possibly change the
direction you are going.

9. Study goals should be SMART
Don’t make goals too big….this makes it more
Specific difficult to achieve them.
The only way you will know if you have achieved your
Measurable goals is if you can measure them.
Make sure, within your ability level and the time
Achievable frame you have, that your goals are
achievable .
Aim for simple steps in the right direction. Don’t aim for an
Realistic ‘A’ if you are getting a ‘D’ at the moment. You need to be
realistic in what you think you can achieve
Knowing the end point allows you to make sure you
Time Bound
leave enough time to achieve your goal.

10. Some short-term goals might be…..
Getting to class Always having Reducing the
on time the equipment amount of time
you need you watch TV or
use Facebook

11. Some short-term goals might be…..
Learning how Practising your Improving your
to take effective essay writing grade from a C+
notes in class skills to a B

12. Making a To-Do List
A To-Do List gives you a quick focus
for action.
It will help you achieve short-term
goals.
Making these goals visible and
ticking them off as you go gives you a
sense of accomplishment.
NOTE: Remember it should NOT be
about how many things you get done,
but whether you have taken care of
the IMPORTANT things.

13. Choose friends who are going to
help you achieve your goals

14. Act as if you
have already
achieved your
goal

15. Goal setting worksheets
Why not try
out these
Goal setting
Worksheets
to help you
get on track

16. Where to from
here?
These ideas are just
that. You will not
achieve your goals
just by reading
them.
You actually have to
take action.

17. Are you on
target?