The new year is a great time to evaluate progress and look toward making positive changes. It is the season of resolutions and goal setting! More often than not resolutions can be overwhelming goals that end up being forgotten or even worse – given up on. When making resolutions and setting goals, it is important to include long term and short term positive changes. Seeing results is exciting, and when you can see them over short term and long term, it is easier to stay motivated!
A short term goal is a smaller goal that you set, that can be reasonably reached in a shorter amount of time such as two weeks or a month. Goals don't always have to be huge! Each goal you set should be individualized to your needs. Some great short term goals are:
- Attend an extra ballet class each week for a month
- Technique goals such as: Use my plie more in my petite allegro (small jumping exercises)
- Be more confident going upside down in inversions in modern or handstands/rolls in acro class
- Stand in the front line during center exercises to increase my confidence!
These goals may seem easy, but small changes in routine help make you a better dancer in the long term. Short term goals are also easy to track, and when you realize you have accomplished them you feel a sense of pride in your accomplishment!
A long term goal is a bigger goal that is usually reached in 6 months, a year, or even 2 years depending on your goals. Long term goals also depend on the dancer. Some dancers may see achieving their flexibility in their splits as a short term goal, while others will need more time because this is more difficult for them! Examples of long term goals include:
- Getting en pointe! (If you are interested in getting en pointe – read this!)
- Moving up to the next class level
- Getting your splits
- Multiple turns such as triples or quadruples, or fouette turns
Long term goals are made easier if you can list short term goals under them to help achieve them. For example, if my long term goal is to get my splits, I could make the following short term goals: 1. Meet with my dance teacher to learn new exercises to increase my flexibility. 2. Develop a stretch plan. 3. Stretch 3 nights per week for 30 minutes. If you kept to your short term goal plan, you would eventually reach your long term goal!
For all goals it is important to write them down, and set a timeline for when you want to reach them. When you do this, you can look back at your goals periodically to make sure you are on track for success! Dance teachers are excited to hear their students have goals, so if you have any questions on what your goals should be or how you should reach them, set up a time to meet with your dance teacher!
Awesome post! Thanks for the inspiration!!