Back to school: How to help your teen set goals that actually work
The beginning of a new school year is like a relaxation retreat compared to exam time. There’s no real pressure yet and your teen has some breathing space. But rather than switching off until exams are right around the corner your teen can use this more relaxed time earlier on in the school year in a way that pays dividends later on.
And the way they can utilise this time is... GOALS. Yes goals. Gross. What quicker way to feel uninspired and annoyed than being told you have to set some goals.
Well — not today. We're going to look at how you can help your teen set goals for the year in a way that is actually useful.
Why should your teen bother with goal setting?
Made correctly goals can be a really useful tool for high school students. Goals can give teens a target that keeps them MOTIVATED and FOCUSED.
Today I want to help your teen come up with a plan to reach their goals that they're actually going to be able to STICK TO. Okay, queue the music and let's do this.
What kind of goals should your teen be setting?
Here are a few ideas for goals that your teen might find useful when they ask themselves, what do they want to get out of this school year?
Hit a certain grade point average?
Do better than last year in certain subjects?
Start studying earlier than last year?
Learn how to write better essays?
Fit past exams into their exam study?
Encourage your teen to set goals that are realistic for them. Obviously this list is not exhaustive, but it should get the conversation started and your teen thinking about what they want to achieve this year.
How can you help your teen REACH their goals?
Okay, now your teen has a list of goals, but how are they going to reach them?!
With a plan. As with all things study, this plan can and should be SIMPLE!
Your teen might like to think about the following when coming up with their plan:
How they can use timetables to manage their time and keep them on track
How they can use incentives to their advantage
How everyone in the family can help and what kind of support they need
Harness the power of goals
The goal planning and achieving process does not need to be complex. The most important thing is that you teen gives it a go. Just attempting goal setting can help to focus the mind and encourage your teen to approach the school year with a better sense of purpose.
When you sit down with your teen to have this discussion about what the year ahead looks like, it's that simple act of sitting down and having a chat that makes the magic.
Hopefully, it will bring presence of mind to your teen. Bring the school year into focus. Help your teen see that school doesn’t have to be something that just happens to them as they bounce along. Instead school can be something they have a vested interest in and something that happens on their terms.
This might sound terribly waffly, but students who get good grades know what they're striving for. They know what the purpose of school is for them. It doesn’t matter what grades your teen is striving for, they can harness the power of goal setting to achieve whatever it is they want to get out of the school year.
Thanks so much for reading.
Clare
Photo credit: Background photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com
