Teenage goalsetting strategies
DAYDREAMING comes naturally, but goal-setting does not. A difference between goals and dreams is that goals require taking action, while dreams do not. Setting goals isn’t an inherent skill. It needs to be learned and practised. The strategies below help teenagers practise setting achievable and worthwhile goals.
Focus on quick wins to get started
Teens need to get some “quick wins” when they start setting goals. For adults and teenagers alike, sometimes a fear of failure can prevent us from working on a goal.
If you do not try, you can’t fail, right? These easier goals give teenagers confidence they can accomplish harder ones.
For example, saving a substantial amount of money may seem daunting and unattainable. A quick win would be to sign up for a bank account for teenagers. That one step makes them closer to their goal than they were before.
Checking something off one’s todo list that can be done in a short amount of time proves a certain level of capability.
Plus, quick goals fight against procrastination. It’s easier to convince yourself to do something that will take only a few minutes than it is to start a long-term project.
They want freedom to set own goals; provide suggestions and structure
You have seen it before. The parent who wanted to be a famous athlete or actress and decided to push that dream onto a child. It’s essential teenagers have the autonomy to create their own goals.
Parents are still valuable in providing goal suggestions as long as they don’t force them. Ask questions, such as, “Why did you choose this goal?” and “What steps do you need to take to reach this goal?” Teaching the components of what makes a strong goal is also useful.
To have the best chance at accomplishing goals, they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely (SMART). Vague goals, such as “try harder in school,” aren’t as effective as specific goals, such as “turn in all my assignments on time.”
To test a goal’s measurability, consider asking, “How will you know when you’ve accomplished this goal?” Unrealistic goals, such as getting 100% on every test, can instill a sense of failure if not accomplished. Goals should be more realistic.
Finally, goals work best with a clear timeline, rather than being indefinite. If a goal never ends, you never get a sense of accomplishment from completing it.
Encourage goals to be ones inside a teenager’s control, rather than somebody else’s. For example, replace the goal “get the lead in the school play” with “have my audition monologue completely memorized.”
Once goals are established, teenagers should write them down to increase their chances of success.
Help them understand costs and benefits
Teenagers need to consider possible challenges and benefits of their goals. Some goals require money. For instance, a young adult may want to attend a basketball camp over the summer to improve his or her chance of making the varsity team the following academic year.
If you’ve agreed this is a cost the teenager will be required to cover on their own, you can help them calculate how long it will take to make the money, whether from an allowance or a part-time job.
Costs aren’t all monetary. If a teenager’s goal requires waking up earlier, it may not occur to him that a potential downside may be needing to go to bed earlier and missing out on previously enjoyed late-night activities.
There may also be more benefits to certain goals than originally realized as well. While the primary goal of baby sitting may be to earn more money, chasing around young children may also provide physical benefits.
A teenager considering volunteering for a cause she believes in may not realize she could later ask an adult from the charity to write her a college recommendation letter.
Fully understanding the costs and benefits of goals will help teens determine if a goal is worth it, and if so, how to prepare for it.