SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

Setting goals is an important step in achieving success. For teens, setting SMART goals can be especially helpful in reaching their targets. By creating goals using the SMART framework, teens can ensure that they are specific and measurable, making it easier to track their progress. Additionally, making goals relevant to their lives and putting a time limit on them helps keep teens motivated and accountable. By following these tips when creating SMART goals for teens, students can set themselves up for success!

WHAT IS A SMART GOAL?

A SMART goal is a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This acronym can help teens remember the key components of effective goal setting.

SPECIFIC GOAL

To create a specific goal, teens should answer the following questions: Who is involved? What do I want to achieve? Where will it take place? Which requirements and constraints am I facing?

MEASURABLE GOAL

In order to measure progress towards a goal, it is important that the goal itself is quantifiable. This means that teens should be able to track their progress and see whether they are getting closer to or further away from their target.

ATTAINABLE GOAL

Goals should challenge teens but still be achievable. If a goal is too easy, it likely won’t provide much motivation. On the other hand, if a goal is impossible to reach, it can lead to discouragement.

RELEVANT GOAL

Goals should be something that is important to the teen and align with their values. By choosing goals that are important to them, teens will be more likely to be motivated to achieve them.

TIME-BOUND GOAL

Putting a time limit on a goal helps to ensure that it gets done. Without a deadline, it is easy to procrastinate and push off accomplishing a goal.

For more information and examples of each aspect of SMART goals check out this post.

WHY ARE SMART GOALS FOR TEENS IMPORTANT?

There are many reasons why SMART goals are important for teens. As mentioned above, SMART goals are more likely to be achieved because they are specific and measurable. Additionally, by making sure that their goals are relevant and time-bound, kids can ensure that they stay motivated throughout the process.

Another reason SMART goals are so important is that they can help teens develop important lifelong skills. Learning how to set SMART goals is a skill that will be beneficial in both their personal and professional lives. Additionally, by taking the time to set SMART goals, teens can learn how to better prioritize their time and resources. After they achieve their goals, they can be proud of their accomplishments.

HOW TO SET SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

Now that we’ve gone over what SMART goals are and why they’re important, it’s time to learn how to set them!

The first step is to come up with an overall goal. This can be something like “I want to get better grades” or “I want to go to college.”

Once you have your main goal, it’s time to start breaking it down into a SMART goal. Remember, each SMART goal should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. It can be a long-term goal or short-term goal.

Let’s take the goal “I want to get better grades” and break it down into a SMART goal.

A specific SMART goal might be “I will study for 15 minutes every night after homework is done.” This goal is specific because it lays out exactly what the teen needs to do in order to reach their target of getting a good grade.

To make a measurable SMART think something along the lines of, “I will raise my grades from a C to a B in all of my classes.” This is measurable because the teen will be able to track their progress and see whether they are getting closer to or further away from their goal.

An attainable SMART goal might be “I will get a peer tutor to help me with my math homework.” It is attainable because it is something that the teen can realistically do.

Relevant SMART goals relate to the teenager’s life. An example might be “I will take the SAT so that I can apply to college.” This goal is relevant because it is something that is important to the teen and will help them reach their larger goal.

If you’re thinking about a time-bound SMART goal, there should be a specific date or time period. “I will take the ACT in April and the SAT in May” would be an example. The goal is time-bound because it has a specific deadline that the teen needs to meet.

By breaking down their goals into SMART goals, teens can increase their chances of success. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound, which makes them a great tool for teens to use as they work towards their larger goals.

EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

Now that we’ve gone over how to set SMART goals, let’s take a look at some examples of academic SMART goals, both short-term and long-term that teens can use.

  • I will study for my biology test for 30 minutes every night this week.
  • I will raise my grades from a B to a A in all of my classes by the end of the semester.
  • I will get a peer tutor to help me with my math homework twice a week.

EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

SMART goals can also be used for social goals. Social SMART goals are a great way for teens to work on developing their social skills and good interactions with peers, friends, and family members.

  • I will call my grandparents once a week.
  • I will join a club or team during my freshman year of high school.
  • I will go to the movies with my friends once a month.

EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

Personal SMART goals are a great way for teens to work on developing their independence and self-sufficiency.

  • I will do my own laundry once a week.
  • I will cook dinner for my family once a week.
  • I will save $50 from my allowance each month.

EXAMPLES OF WORK SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

Teenagers may have an after-school job. SMART goals can also be used for work-related goals. Work SMART goals can help teens develop important workplace skills.

  • I will arrive to my job on time and ready to work every day.
  • I will vacuum the carpet every time I close the store.
  • I will complete all of my tasks by the end of my shift.

EXAMPLES OF COLLEGE SMART GOALS FOR TEENS

SMART goals can also be used for college-related goals. These college goals can help teens stay on track for their college plans.

  • I will apply to 7 colleges by the end of junior year.
  • I will get a part-time job in my field of interest during my senior year.
  • I will visit 3 colleges during the summer before senior year.

No matter what your goals are, SMART goals can help you achieve them. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound, which makes them a great tool for goal-setting. By breaking down your goals into SMART goals, you can increase your chances of success.

Need to clarify what your student is interested in pursuing further? Read Interest Inventory for Students.