Prioritizing Prioritizing and Goal and Goal

Setting for Setting for Academic Academic SuccessSuccess

Why set goals?Why set goals?

Goals give us purpose and an objective to strive for. They give

us a reason to get out of bed each morning.

People who set goals, commit their goals to writing, and refer back regularly are many times more likely to be successful in life.

Goals Give You Direction Goals Give You Direction Without direction, we would wander

around aimlessly. When we get in our car, we would just drive until

the road ends.What is it that keeps us from ending up at random locations all the time? The answer is that we start out with a clear direction in mind, an idea of

where we want to go.

Life is the same way. If you have objectives and goals that you wish to

achieve, you’re much more likely to be successful. If you don't, you probably

won't.

Goals, by themselves, are not enough. A goal, without a plan for how you intend

to reach the goal, is little more than wishful thinking. The absolute best way

to make any goal work is to sit down and make a plan.

College is one of the most exciting times of a person’s life. It is filled with endless

opportunities and possibilities that most people find to be somewhat rare once out of school. It is important to figure out early on what you want to get out of it and not waste

your opportunity.

Even if you don't know exactly what you want from college (or after college), you

probably have some idea of what things are important to you, or what you might hope to

get from the time spent at school.

In order for something to In order for something to be a goal:be a goal:

It has to be important to you personallyIt has to be within your power to make it happen through your own actions.It has to be something you have a

reasonable chance of achieving.It must be clearly defined and have a

specific plan of action.

Types of GoalsTypes of Goals Short-term goalsShort-term goals are compact,

specific goals that can be achieved on a daily basis or within a year.

Examples of Short Term GoalsGetting an A on my English paper

Studying two hours tonight

Short term goals are often stepping stones to a bigger or more long

range goal

Types of Goals (Con’t)Types of Goals (Con’t) Long term goalsLong term goals will take a year or

more to achieve. These goals form the basis for our ambition and

motivation. Examples of long-term goals may

include: earning your college degree

getting into grad. schoolbuying your first home or car

Active Goal SettingActive Goal Setting

• You are more likely to achieve your goals if you use active goal setting

• This is a method for accomplishing your objectives by thinking through, analyzing, then writing down your goals.

• It helps you achieve clarity and control over your life. It keeps you focused on what you wish to achieve.

Steps for Active Goal Steps for Active Goal SettingSetting

Identify the GoalIdentify the Goal• Is it a goal of necessity (paying your tuition,

passing your math test) or a goal of enrichment (traveling, learning to play the

guitar)?• Remember to choose goals that are

attainable and within your reach. Don’t set yourself up for failure.

• Choose measurable goals (I am going to study for my test two hours every night this week)

• Be flexible, but firm with your goals

Steps for Active Goal Making Steps for Active Goal Making (cont.)(cont.)

Write Your Goals on PaperWrite Your Goals on Paper• You are more likely to achieve your

goals if you write them down• Write down why you want to achieve

your goal as well as how and when you hope to achieve it

• Review your goals and your progress on a regular basis

Steps for Active Goal Making Steps for Active Goal Making (cont.)(cont.)

Make a PlanMake a Plan• Break your goals down into smaller

steps• Give yourself a deadline to achieve each

step• List the obstacles that may stand in the

way• List how you plan to deal with these

obstacles

Steps for Active Goal Making Steps for Active Goal Making (cont.)(cont.)

• Review your goals regularly• Give yourself feedback• Reward yourself for achieving your

goals• Take advantage of resources that

will help you

PrioritizingPrioritizing

• Prioritizing is the ability to see what tasks are more important at each moment and to give those tasks more of your attention, energy, and time.

• You focus on what is important at the expense of lower value activities.

PrioritizingPrioritizing• We all have many things to do, and often do not

have the time and energy to do them all. • We don't have time and resources to do them

equally well either. • Sometimes things may be left undone, no matter

how hard we try. • Prioritizing is a way to solve that frustrating

problem.

PrioritizingPrioritizing

• Prioritizing is about making choices of what to do and what not to do.

• To prioritize effectively you need to be able to recognize what is important, as well as to see the difference between urgent and important.

• The important, or high priority, tasks are the tasks that help us achieve our long-term goals

PrioritizingPrioritizing• At first glance, many of the tasks we

face during a day seem equally urgent and important.

• Yet, if you take a closer look, you will see that many of the urgent activities we are involved in are not really important in the long run.

• With good prioritizing skills, you first complete the most important or urgent tasks, the ones that would get you into a crisis or trouble otherwise.

• Then, you focus your attention on tasks that are less urgent but often more meaningful.

Tips to Help You PrioritizeTips to Help You Prioritize

• Spend five minutes a day making a list of things that need to be done

• Prioritize the list• Have a “must do list” of crucial tasks that

must be completed today (ex. Study for test that is tomorrow, buy groceries, pay rent)

• Have a “should do list” of things that are important but not critical to complete today (do laundry, re-write my Biology notes, call home)

Tips to Help You Prioritze Tips to Help You Prioritze (cont.)(cont.)

• Have a “nice to do” list of least urgent priorities (example: go to a movie with girlfriend / boyfriend, take dog for a walk)

• Remember, your priorities shift from day to day so it’s important to set aside time each day to set goals and prioritize.