Attend School Events | Become More Visible at School |
Become a Teaching Assistant | Calculated Risk Taking |
Challenge Assumptions | Challenge Peers / Teachers / Theories / Textbooks |
Community Activities | Complete Homework Quickly / Efficiently |
Contribute to School Culture | Cultural Participation |
Develop Confidence | Develop Debating Skills |
Develop Friendships | Develop Grit / Resilience |
Develop a More Productive Routine | Develop a Project / Experiment / Prototype |
Do Good / Live Up to Moral Standards | Exercise |
Find a Tutor | Find an Internship |
Focus While Studying | Found a School Club |
Gain Acceptance to College / University | Gain Experience in a Profession / Trade |
Gain Work Experience | Get Up Early / Improve Sleep Schedule |
Handling Conflict / Difficult People | Health & Wellness |
Improve Behavior | Improve Communication |
Improve Decision Making / Problem Solving | Improve Finances (e.g. reduce spending) |
Improve Grades | Improve Nutrition / Eating Habits |
Improve Presentations / Speaking Skills | Improve Productivity of Study Time |
Improve Quality of Homework / Assignments | Improve Sleep Habits |
Improve Writing Skills | Independent Learning |
Join a School Club | Join a Sports Team |
Lead Club Activities | Lead Discussions |
Lead Teams | Learn a Language |
Make Better Use of Time | Make Decisions |
Master a Talent | Meet People |
Networking | Obtain a Driver's License |
Overcome Problems (e.g. sideline negative people) | Overcome a Bad Habit |
Overcome a Fear | Part-time Employment |
Participate in Class | Participate in School Life |
Political Participation | Prioritize Family |
Public Speaking Opportunities | Pursue Epic / Peak Experiences |
Pursue Leisure & Recreation | Pursue a Hobby / Interest |
Quality Time | Reading |
Reduce Time Consuming Media (e.g. view less television / streaming media) | Reduce Time on Social Media |
Research Careers | Research Colleges / Universities |
Research Projects / Topics | Sideline Negative Influences |
Stick to a Study Schedule | Sustain Friendship / Prioritize Time with Positive People |
Take Time to Play / Explore / Pursue Adventure | Travel |
Tutor Others | Volunteer at School (e.g. event organization) |
Volunteer in Community | Work / Collaborate With Others |
Write a Journal |
Goals vs Intentions
Goals are an outcome that you would like to achieve such as a particular grade. Intentions are goals for your own behavior irrespective of outcomes. For example, the intention to study hard without an target for your actual grades. If you are setting goals for others, they often focus on outcomes such that goals may be required to be smart. This can be counterproductive because outcomes are beyond your control. It is often better to focus on what you can do as opposed to how things work out.Smart Goals
Organizations and institutions often require that goals be smart meaning that they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. This means that your goals need to have some number or confirmable outcome and a target date. The following are a few examples.Improve study habits to focus without distraction for 45 minute study sessions with 10 minute breaks between. Target: maintain this new habit for all of first term. [includes a numerical target for the time that you will focus]
Get my driver's license by the end of the year. [includes a confirmable fact]
Join the sailing team in the summer. [includes a confirmable fact]
Reduce time on social media to 30 minutes a day in first term. [numerical target]
Get my driver's license by the end of the year. [includes a confirmable fact]
Join the sailing team in the summer. [includes a confirmable fact]
Reduce time on social media to 30 minutes a day in first term. [numerical target]