College is an exciting time. From making new friends, navigating new found freedom, parties, late-night study groups and snack runs, college can also be distracting, and you can easily lose your focus. This is where having a goal-setting strategy can help you get back on track. Set goals to ensure your success.
Make It Measurable
Your goal should be both measurable and realistic. Saying you need to study more isn't going to cut it. You will be much more likely to succeed if your goal is to study two hours each night before bed. This happens all time in the counseling center--a student will come in and explain that he or she just needs to study more, but without making a concrete measurable goal it will never actually happen.
Write It Down
Not only write your strategy down, but put it somewhere obvious so that you will see it every day to remind yourself. Either a bathroom mirror or the refrigerator are both good places.
Have a Plan
To ensure you succeed, you need a plan of action. In the studying example from above, create a fake class in your daily planner to set aside studying time. Ask yourself why you have failed in the past and build this into your plan of action. If your goal to stop smoking and cold turkey hasn't worked in the past, look into other options. Don't try the same thing over and over again. If your cell phone has been a problem, turn it off. If friends coming to visit your dorm room have proved to be a distraction, go to the library. If lack of motivation has been a problem, give yourself a reward.
Give Yourself a Deadline
Set a target date, and once you reach the date, evaluate your progress. Having a date in your mind assists you in reaching your goal. Think about it for a minute. When someone sends you an email and tells you to respond immediately vs. someone who sends you an email and tells you to respond by the end of the day, which email will you respond to first?
Want It
If you don't actually want to study more, it's not going to happen. Your goal needs to be something you actually want. If you are finding it hard to want to study, remind yourself why it's important. For example, you need to pass your basic biology class because it's a requirement for your anthropology degree.
References
- Mind Tools: Personal Goal Setting
- Time Management Guide: How to Write an Action Plan
- "Cornerstone: Creating Success Through Positive Change" Sixth Edition; Robert M. Sherfield & Patricia G. Moody; 2010
