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The following section focuses on Goal Setting and the importance of setting goals for yourself throughout your time as a student in UCC. This section can really assist you in your goal setting skills to ensure that you SMART goals for yourself in order to set yourself up for success in your studies.

Goal Setting 101

What is a Goal?

A goal is defined as the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result. It is something you want to achieve. It is not an activity; it is not a task. It is an aim or a purpose. Goals are the first step towards planning for your future and goal setting is the process by which you achieve your goals. Having a goal equals motivating: Humans like to have goals because it provides a sense of motivation to change, adapt and experience new things. Goals don’t need to be huge but when they are achieved, and one has that experience of pushing oneself towards something new in oneself, this brings a real sense of confidence.

There are different areas in which you can set goals for yourself, below are ten areas you can consider in your goal setting:

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Why is it important to have goals?

Below are ten additional reasons why goal setting is an important skills to master.

① Goals push you forward.

② Defining success is essential.

③ Goals hold you accountable.

④ You need a measuring stick.

⑤ Goals inform action.

⑥ Goals set priorities.

⑦ Goals communicate meaning.

⑧ Tracking progress is important.

⑨ Recognising progress is important.

⑩ Goals help morale.

SMART Goal Setting

It is said (and proven), that if you want to succeed, you need to set goals. Without goals, you lack focus and direction. Goals also help you measure success. To accomplish your goals, you need to plan and structure them properly since a goal without a plan is just a wish. It is important to get S.M.A.R.T about goal setting.

Specific - Your goals must be clear and well defined. For example, you can say specifically the name of the course you want to complete. It is important however, to also know the specific requirements of your course so that you are fully involved in the varied and important elements that will move you ever closer to achieving your goal.
Measurable - If you are unable to measure your goals, you are unable to manage them. Set a time-limit or a specific date by which you want to achieve your goal, that way it becomes something you can measure and, in turn, manage your time around achieving this goal better.
Attainable - Your goals should challenge you, yet be achievable for you. Challenge is necessary: Accept that there will always be challenges. A challenge is no reason to give up your goal. It is an opportunity to reassess and manage your approach.
Relevant - Your goals should be relevant towards the direction you want to steer. Relevance is worth: It doesn’t matter why this goal is relevant to you, once you see the worth in it you are far more likely to fully commit and follow through to completing what needs to be done to achieve this goal.
Time bound - Whenever you set a goal, it is important to set a time limit on it to push you to actually work on it. With academic goals, they tend to be spread out over a few years making them long, large goals to achieve. It is important to appreciate this and pace yourself.

TIP: Remember to evaluate and revisit your goals at regular intervals – this will help you to stay agile and adapt your goals to keep pace with your evolving life and career plans.

Setting Goals That Matter

You can watch the below Ted Talk by Samantha Kris for information on setting goals that matter:

Top tips to Goal Setting success

Below are five essential tips to keep in mind when setting goals for yourself:

Have a symbol for your goal being achieved: Olympians have medals or Personal Best Times to look at or hold. Graduates have a printed manuscript, a diploma to hang on the wall and photos to take in a cap and gown. Consider what the symbol of your specific goal could be and keep that image in mind.

Ask for help: The importance of asking for help is essential in building a community and support system to achieve a goal. Every university is designed specifically to help each student as much as possible. However, you must ask for help so that help can be given. Asking for help with your goal is a real sign of strength and not weakness.

Have a why: You can do just about everything once you have a good reason, a good why for doing so. This 'Why' must be personal and internal to you. Someone else wanting you to do something is never as powerful as you yourself wanting to do something. Find your Why. It is what you can hold onto when things become more difficult or challenging.

Meaning and Discipline: Motivation can get you to the start line of your goal, but it is meaning and discipline over the long term that ultimately gets a person to the end point. Steady, sustainable progression, being the person who will cover the ground and keep going is the one who wins. Discipline is what makes this happen.

Be the Hero in your life: If you take the position of being the hero and not the opposite, the victim, you act even when the challenges arise and keep to your path. You are, after all, the constant common denominator in your life, so might as well be the hero and not the victim. The hero mentality is required to achieve anything so why not be your own personal hero?

Goal Setting for University Life