I’m a firm believer in goal setting. I used to set aside an entire day at the start of each semester for students to set goals, both personal and academic. I then used test days for them to reevaluate their progress. That’s a lot of classroom time. Some may look at it as a waste, since my academic subject wasn’t taught on those days. While much academic learning may not have happened that day, I know my students were learning valuable life skills about planning, persevering, and achieving their goals. Those are the lessons I hoped would stick with them in the long run.
Goals don’t end at the classroom. Goals are important for so many reasons. I’m going to focus on my top 3 reasons.
1. Goals Provide Focus
It’s hard to achieve something if you don’t know what it is you’re trying to achieve. I found that often people have a sense of what they want- success, good grades, to go to college, a good job, etc. While this is a good start, it’s not enough. Simply saying “I want a good job.” is enough to placate the sense of purpose, but it’s not enough to become achievable. First, you must define what a “good job” is. Then, you need to determine the job requirements. Goals provide focus.
2. Goals Provide Accountability
A proper set goal will include baby steps and timelines to achievement. This creates an internal accountability. Accountability is a motivating factor for success and achievement. For larger goals, external accountability may be needed. You may need to involve a family member or friend who will check in and ask about your progress. When it comes to homeschooling, your whole family will be involved in goal setting and achieving. You will probably have many goals- goals for you and your spouse relating to why you are homeschooling and what you want homeschooling to accomplish, as well as your children’s goals and subject/learning goals.
3. Goals Lead to Success
It is so easy to say “I want to be successful.” It’s much harder to actually be successful. Taking the time to thoughtfully plan your goals and create a plan for implementation significantly increases your chances of achieving them. Planning and visualizing success creates a “can do” mentality in the mind of the goal setter. Mentality is half the battle. When a person has clearly defined their goal and their path to achieve it, there is little that can stop them.
In the ten years my husband and I have been married, we’ve set some big goals for ourselves. Some of them have been so big that I did not believe we would accomplish them. Now, as I look at what we want to accomplish, what we have accomplished, and where we are, I believe we can achieve any goal we set our minds too. I want you to find that success as well.
Are you ready to start achieving your goals? The first step is to make a plan! Use my free goal planner to get started now.