Goal Setting & Motivation Jennifer Zimmerman Assistant Director Academic Resource Center Mercer University

G oal P lan A ction! Make it large, ambitious, and specific... then write it down.... then draw yourself a detailed roadmap. Use your confidence, self-discipline, and a sense of urgency to put your plan into Seek practical advice, make a Pauk, p. 15

Goals Should Be... 1.Specific – use detail and write it down 2.Measurable – think how you will evaluate your success 3.Challenging – prime the motivation pump by requiring energy and discipline 4.Realistic – don’t set yourself up for failure 5.Targeted toward a completion date – break larger goals into shorter pieces and clearly specify completion dates

Prioritize Your Goals and Activities A, B, C Method 1.List all your goals 2.Rate each goal A – High Value B – Medium Value C – Low Value 3.Plan A activities designed to accomplish A goals Pauk, p. 43

Prioritize Your Goals and Activities Pareto Principle Or the 80/20 Rule 1.List all A activities in order of importance 2.Accomplish top 2 of 10 Result – 80% Success Rate! Pauk, p. 43 Focusing on top 20% of your “to do” list will get you 80% of the way to your goal

Work Toward Your Goals Quit Procrastinating The Seven-Day Antiprocrastination Plan M onday – M ake it Meaningful T uesday – T ake it Apart W ednesday – W rite an Intention Statement T hursday – T ell Everyone F riday – F ind a Reward S aturday – S ettle it Now S unday – S ay No! Ellis, p. 65

Work Toward Your Goals Psychological Helps Take advantage of good moods  Give yourself a pep talk  Make a promise to someone else  Build in rewards  Stress the benefits

Nist, Sherrie L. and Jodi Patrick Holschuh, Active Learning: Strategies for College Success. Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon, Pauk, Walter, How to Study in College. 7 th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, Ellis, Dave, Becoming a Master Student. 8 th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998.