Do you run into a pattern of feeling stuck at some point in the semester? Maybe you start to forget why you even chose to take your classes in the first place. In these circumstances, it can be really hard to stay focused and motivated when everything is so overwhelming. In this article, I'll discuss the benefits of goal setting at the start and throughout the semester to help you stay motivated.
Academic
Learning Goals:
Setting learning goals for each class you're taking at the start of a new semester can give you specific things to focus on and revisit if you're ever losing motivation or feeling stuck. Sometimes, it's helpful to remind ourselves why we're in school and what we hope to learn and gain from our experiences. When writing or simply thinking about your learning goals, try to consider these questions:
- Why is this learning goal personally relevant to you?
- How will achieving this goal help you reach your ultimate academic, career, or personal goals?
- What specific steps do you plan to take to accomplish this goal?
- What challenges might you face throughout the semester as you work toward this goal?
- What actions could you take to help overcome these challenges?
- What skills/abilities do you already possess that could help you reach this goal?
- What skills/abilities will you gain from accomplishing this goal?
Mini Goals:
Consider getting into a routine of setting mini goals each week, each day, or even each study session. Don't feel like you have to plan out a specific schedule down to the last minute, but it can be helpful for some people to manage their time and stay on track with coursework by creating goals for what they aim to accomplish by a certain date or time.
Personal Goals
Since coursework takes up so much of our time as college students, we often forget how important free time is to work on our personal interests, hobbies, and passions. If you're someone who often gets overwhelmed and over focused on school work alone, it can be helpful to set some goals for your personal growth outside of school.
Example: I aim to spend more time on my hobby of playing guitar by learning at least five new songs by the end of the semester.
Overall, remember to always do what works best for you in terms of goal setting, and if you don't know yet, that's okay too. Some people are very driven toward accomplishing certain things while other people find their motivation and goals along the way. This article is simply a starting point with suggestions and ideas to work on goal setting. Best of luck to everyone starting the new semester!
