Goal Setting Hint 1: Set short term goals for yourself. Sure your overall long term goal is to speak the best English that you can, but that can take years. During that time you may become unmotivated to learn because you feel you are not achieving anything. Short term goals help keep you motivated because you are constantly achieving them. An example of a short term goal may be a particular language point that you are struggling with. Short term goals should be no longer than 60 days.
Goal Setting Hint 2: Reward your efforts! Each time you achieve a short term goal, reward yourself. The reward will give you the motivation to go and achieve your next goal.
Goal Setting Hint 3: Put it in writing. Write your goals on paper and read them at least once every day. This helps to keep you focused on completing your goals as they are now something you can touch. Make sure that you specify the timeframe in which you should complete your goal. When don’t set a timeframe for your goal, chances are you won’t complete it.
Goal Setting Hint 4: Believe you can do it. Don’t set goals that you know you can’t or won’t achieve. You’ll lose focus because you believe that you will never achieve them. You’ll feel a lot better about learning if you feel confident within yourself that you can complete the goals you have set for yourself.
Goal Setting Hint 5: Imagine what it will “feel” like when you have achieved your goal. Contrary to the belief that daydreaming is a waste of time, imagine what it will be like once you have achieved your goal. Your goal will be more attainable because you can see yourself with it.
Goal Setting Hint 6: Have a “plan-to-action” for your goal. No matter how long or how short your goal is, plan what you are going to do and how long it will take. Even if your goal will only takes an hour. In your plan to action you should state all the steps you need to take in order to achieve your goal. Each of these steps is just a smaller goal. By breaking down large goals into smaller “steps” you find it easier get motivated because you are constantly achieving results. Your goals are also more manageable because you know exactly what you have done and what you still need to do in order to achieve your goal.
