By Janan Boljevic
Amidst the chaos of a new semester, you can find some solace in crossing off another thing on your to-do list. Setting realistic goals is important to being productive. Here are some ways to set those goals and feel accomplished!
1. Categorize your goals
Seeing “become the CEO of a multi-million dollar company” in the middle of your agenda for the school week might be a little disheartening. Try dividing your career and semester goals from your daily tasks into different lists or notebooks. Distinguish your short and long-term and school or personal goals to keep your head in the game and to give you a silver lining to look towards. This will make all your hopes for the future more attainable.
2. Break them down
We will face many barriers while trying to reach our goals. Not knowing what those barriers are leads to lots of frustration. When writing down your long-term goals, outlining the specific, achievable steps you need to achieve them will keep you motivated. Break down statements like “I will get an A in Macroeconomics” to “I will attend each lecture and take detailed notes,” or “I’ll practice 30 multiple choice questions every two days to enhance my skills.” The more specific each step is, the more clear the path to your primary goal.
3. Note obstacles and reflect
Being able to accept that things don’t always go as planned is always a hard pill to swallow, but it’s a healthy mindset to have. You won’t achieve every goal and things might not go your way. It’s important to remember that one misstep doesn’t undo all the hard work you put into the goals you set for yourself, and there are ways to get back on track.
4. Make a vision board
Vision boards are a great way to visualize your success and have a constant reminder of what you’re working towards. Your vision board can be digital or on a physical board or paper — whatever speaks to you! Then make a collage of the things you want to achieve — having photos of the kind of house you want to live in, the grades you want to have, etc. As time passes, you get to reassess your goals as they change, and you can make a new board to reflect that shift. It manifests the future you envision in your head to the real world.
5. Stay optimistic and motivated!
At the end of the day, your attitude is what will make or break your success. Taking much-needed rest days, keeping yourself excited to work for what you want, and holding yourself accountable is crucial. Once you set your goals, you’re already placing them within reach as long as you can keep your head held high!
Now that we have talked about ways to organize and reach your goals, it’s time to go apply them. Always remember to organize your goals into their respective categories, break them down into manageable steps, steel yourself against setbacks, visualize your future with a vision board, and keep a positive mindset. You got this!
Happy Valley Comm 