17 Nov Goal setting for teens – 20 for 20
I’m going to jump straight into this blog by asking what goals you set at the start of 2020?
A lot of unpredictable challenges have come our way this year, so you may not have achieved all of your goals but the intention is what matters.
Committing to good habits
Goal-setting can be a big task and when a goal isn’t met you can often beat yourself up about it. It might be that an unrealistic goal has been set that can’t be achieved, or you fall out of focus in reaching the end goal because the post has been set too high.
So, what’s the answer?
It all comes down to making a commitment to starting and sticking to new habits. If these new habits are small yet consistent steps you will be amazed at how quickly they add up to create a much bigger journey.
“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.” Andrew Carnegie
Starting small
I am a regular gym user and I was recently chatting to my daughter about morning routines and how to do things differently to make a change.
My daughter had started doing a 20-minute yoga session each morning as part of her commitment to taking smaller steps towards a bigger goal. Her main goal was to do a handstand and hold it in a strong form with strength and balance. Now, my daughter is in her thirties so completing such a handstand of precision is not quite as easy as it would be if she was in her teens. By breaking her goal down into smaller tasks to build her core strength, she knows it will be more achievable.
When I was younger, I used to do an exercise ‘hour of power’ every morning. I would get up, complete my exercise and post what I had done online as a way of keeping myself accountable and hopefully inspiring others to do the same.
You might think that an hour every morning before you get ready for school or work sounds impossible because of the time needed, or the commitments that you have, to do it consistently. And that’s OK. The worst thing you can do is attempt a goal that is, in actual fact, setting you up to fail!
Instead of immediately jumping into an hour of something, start somewhere that’s achievable, such as 20 minutes for a set number of days. Be realistic so that it’s achievable then build from there.
“All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.” Orison Swett Marden
Goal setting for teens – choose 20
Think about what you would like to do better. If something would make you happier, what would that be?
It could be developing your writing or reading skills, regular exercise or meditation, learning a language or to play a new instrument, or to get better at studying for your exams. Where could you fit 20 minutes in each day to practice and build your habit?
It doesn’t even have to be time that you commit to. It could be 20 things, such as 20 press ups, sit ups or squats for 20 days as a health goal. What about starting a journal and writing down 20 things that you are grateful for each day?
Every morning you could start the day with a positive mindset by logging what you are looking to achieve. At night you could write about everything positive that has happened during the day and things that you love about yourself or the people around you.
Your goal might be to meet 20 new people, read 20 books or visit 20 new places over the course of the next year.
There are so many possibilities and variations to choose from. What do you really want in life? What can you commit to doing? Start now.
I promise that you will feel proud that you’ve committed to working towards a goal. It’s the start of a journey. A journey about who you want to be and who you’ll become as you progress. Each habit will eventually become automatic, so you can keep committing to more small habits that will lead to a bigger dream.
“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands – your own.” Mark Victor Hansen
Choose the life you want to lead
By picking something small and doing it consistently you will create a new habit and a discipline in seeing something through to the end.
Form new and exciting habits to improve areas of your health, education, positive emotions and actions with yourself and others, and be more adventurous.
Please do share your journey and inspire others by connecting on social media or leaving a comment at the end of this blog.
Until next week, go forth and expand yourself!
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