• Most Aussie teenagers set goals, yet more than half of them may give up before they’ve achieved them.
• Teens cite tiredness, lack of determination, study/work commitments, technology distractions and lack of courage as barriers.
• Only 45 percent of teens are optimistic about the future.

Ask a teenager about why they haven’t done something, and you’re bound to get a few ‘can’t be bothered’ (or ‘CBB’ in instant messaging). But it turns out that Aussie teens are great at setting goals – they just have a lot on their plate and need some support and inspiration to achieve them.

A new national study from ReachOut.com, Australia’s leading online mental health service for young people, in conjunction with Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain shows that the majority of Aussie teenagers (81 percent) set short term or long term goals, yet more than half of them (58 percent) may give up before they’ve managed to achieve them.

What’s stopping today’s teens from reaching their fullest potential? The findings showed a combination of barriers. Teens who set goals flagged tiredness (38 percent), a lack of determination (36 percent), study or work commitments (35 percent), technology distractions (32 percent) and a lack of courage (21 percent) as some of the biggest barriers that stood in the way of achieving them.

Jono Nicholas, chief executive officer, ReachOut.com, said, “It’s not easy being a teenager. It can be very challenging to realise goals while navigating everyday issues such as relationships, study stress and health concerns. At ReachOut.com, we are always looking for new ways to let young people know that it’s ok to ask for support and advice during tough times.”

Not having an inspiring role model and concern about the future are some of the other challenges that Aussie teens are facing, according to the research.

Although mum and dad are great inspirations for some Aussie teens – 24 percent of them said mum is the most inspirational person in their lives (while 23 percent of them credit dad with that badge) –one in five Aussie teens (19 percent) said there’s nobody in their lives who inspired them, and only 45 percent said they’re optimistic about their future.

Jeci David, senior brand manager, Nutri-Grain, said, “Teens want to live happy and healthy lives and achieve their goals. It’s finding the strength, courage and determination to achieve these goals that can sometimes be a challenge.”

Nutri-Grain will next week launch #LiveUnstoppable, a series of inspiring stories about individuals who have all overcome barriers to live unstoppable lives.

“We want to inspire teens to keep pursuing their goals, which is why we’re presenting a series of stories about amazing individuals who didn’t let anything stop them, even in the face of adversity,” David said.

Nutri-Grain is a proud supporter of ReachOut.com, Australia's leading online mental health service for young people. Teenagers can visit ReachOut.com for support and advice on dealing with everything from everyday issues to going through tough times.

Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter @nutrigrainau, using the hashtag #LiveUnstoppable. Check us out at www.nutrigrain.com.au and www.facebook.com/nutrigrainau

Notes to editors:

• The research was conducted by ReachOut.com for Nutri-Grain in December 2014.
• A representative sample of 500 teenagers aged 14-19 years was drawn in proportion to age and location across Australia both in regional and suburban areas. 60 percent were male and 40 percent were female.
   

About Kellogg ANZ:

Since 1924, Kellogg ANZ has been driven to enrich and delight consumers through foods and brands that matter. Kellogg is the world’s leading cereal company and our brands –  Kellogg’s®, Be Natural®, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes®, Rice Bubbles®, Nutri-Grain®, Special K®, All-Bran®, Sultana Bran®, Coco Pops®, Pringles®  and more – are welcomed into homes, nourishing families so they can flourish and thrive. Through our Breakfasts For Better Days® initiative, we’re providing 12 million servings of cereal and snacks in Australia and one billion servings of cereal and snacks globally – more than half of which are breakfasts – to children and families in need around the world by the end of 2016. To learn more about our corporate responsibility initiatives and our work to support local communities across Australia and New Zealand, visit www.kelloggs.com.au or www.kellogg.co.nz and follow us on Twitter @Kelloggs_AU.

About Reachout.com:

With more than 1.8 million unique users each year, ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. Designed to help young people under 25 stay connected and get through tough times, the service provides practical tools, forums and information in a safe and anonymous online environment.