Goal Setting

What is goal setting?

Goal setting is the process of thinking about your future and motivating yourself to turn your vision of this into a reality. With goal setting, you can set short, medium and long term goals depending on what you want to achieve and by when. For example you may decide that you want to pass all your GCSE subjects by the time you finish Year 11. This would be an example of a long term goal as this vision isn't happening in the immediate future.

Why should I set goals?

Setting goals gives you something to aspire towards and also provides the motivation to then achieve this. It focuses your time and helps you to organise yourself so that you can make the most of your life.

You need to first decide what you want from your life and where you want to be. This might seem a little difficult at first and it may be good to discuss this with someone that you trust but deciding on what you want to achieve in life is the starting point of goal setting.

Your goals should be S.M.A.R.T

  • Specific - Your goal needs to be clear and specific otherwise you won't be able to focus your efforts or feel motivated to achieve it.


  • Measurable - It is important to track and monitor your progress and stay motivated. Assessing this allows you to keep focused and meet your deadlines.


  • Achievable - Your goal needs to be something that you can achieve and is realistic in order to be successful. Equally it needs to be able to challenge you.


  • Relevant - Your goal should be set on something that matters to you. It is no good setting a goal which has no meaning as then you won't have the motivation to complete it.


  • Time bound - Every goal you set needs a target date. This then allows you to maintain focus on the goal and achieve it.

Setting short-term goals

Short-term goals are ‘short’, meaning the time frame can be as short as 10 minutes, a day, or as long as a week. Well-formed short-term goals begin with the end in mind. A short-term goal is the smallest step you need for you to reach a bigger goal centered around achieving something you passionately desire.

Achieving short-term goals can boost your daily motivation and this then leads you to completing more challenging goals and targets. It may be that you set many short-term goals and you repeatedly set the same short-term goals to help create a routine and a sense of daily achievement.

Some examples of short-term goals could be:

  • Have a nutritious breakfast (or breakfast in general if you tend to skip this meal)

  • Walk to school

  • Read 'X' amount of pages of your revision guide/reading book etc.

  • Achieve 'X' score on your next assessment

Setting long-term goals

A long-term goal is something you want to do further in the future. Long-term goals require time and planning. They are not something you can do this week or even this year. Long-term goals usually take 12 months or more to achieve.

Achieving long-term goals give a real sense of achievement as they are not easy to accomplish and often take several years of hard work, dedication and commitment to complete.

Some examples of long-term goals could be:

  • Getting 'X' number of GCSEs at grade 9-5

  • Get a job that you've always wanted to do

  • Go to college or university

Goal setting activities

Setting Goals
Action for goals