SETTING GOALS

You may be procrastinating because your goals are not in line with your intentions, or perhaps because you have not set formal goals to live by. You need to think about what is important to you, and translate this into goals. Make sure your goals reflect your interests and values. Make sure your goals are going to move you ahead in life. Then, make your goals a priority so that you are likely to give them the attention and effort necessary to attain them.

You need to define your goals in behavioral terms, that is, make each goal an action or behavior you can carry out. In addition make each goal specific enough so you can measure your progress and determine its ultimate attainment. For example, a goal might be to get a grade of B or better in a math course you are about to take. Another might be to turn in your first paper on time. A third might be to spend at least 3 hours of every day this week studying.

Your goals should also be challenging, that is, working toward them will make you grow, but they should also be attainable. Goals that are "pie in the sky" are of no value. Each goal should represent a small but discernible step beyond the previous goal or what has been referred to as "baby steps." You are much more likely to take baby steps than giant leaps. Also, many of your goals should lead to more immediate results, although some can be more long range.

Write out your goals and separate them into the following four categories, with three in each category.

1. Life Goals

2. University Goals

3. This Term's Goals

4. This Week's Goals

Number the goals in each category 1, 2, and 3 in order of priority or importance to you. Under each goal, list the most important action you must take to achieve it. (Some of these goals may overlap so that the same action may help you achieve more than one of your goals.)

Your notebook should be organized as follows:

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