1. It’s About Time: Turning What You Want Into Goals You Can Achieve
Yeshiva University
Office of Academic Support
Furst Hall 412

2. A goal is a dream with a deadline
(Napoleon Hill )

3. What Do I Want? To improve my grades To earn a college degree
To earn a graduate degree
To get a job
To learn how to play an instrument
To become more organized
To get a summer internship
To play professional sports

4. Make your wants a reality by creating SMART goals

5. Specific Measurable Action Realistic Time
What are SMART goals?
Specific
Measurable
Action
Realistic
Time

6. What specific result do I want?
Not specific: I want to improve my grades.
Specific: I want to raise my grade in Biology by 5 points by the end of the term.

7. How will I measure my progress?
Not measurable: I want to lose a lot of weight.
Measurable: I want to lose 10 pounds by June 1 and will weigh myself every Monday for the next 3 months.

8. What action do I need to take?
Incorrect: I will study to improve my grades.
Correct: I will read the chapter in advance of class and review my notes for 20 minutes twice a week.

9. Is this something I can achieve?
Not realistic: I want to score 50 points in the next basketball game.
Realistic: I want to hit 7 out of 10 free throws.

10. What is the time frame for my goal?
Incorrect: I want to learn to play an instrument.
Correct: I want to learn to play the “Star Spangled Banner” on piano by June 15.

11. Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal (Henry Ford)

12. What distracts us from our goals?
Fear of failure
Inability to get started
Resistance to rules and parameters
Lack of motivation
Lack of focus
Perfectionism
Social media

13. How Should I Spend My Time?
Adapted from Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, Stephen Covey

14. How can I manage my time?
Use a planner to create a schedule of balanced activities
Evaluate your study needs for the semester
Identify times and locations that work for you
Break down long term and large projects into smaller, more manageable parts
Plan for the unexpected

15. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO Learn More About time management and setting goals…
Visit the Office of Academic Support
Furst Hall 412

16. Sources
Covey, Stephen R. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Hopper, Carolyn H. "1 and 3." Practicing College Learning Strategies. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, N. pag. Print.
Marks-Beale, Abby. "4." Success Skills: Strategies for Study and Lifelong Learning. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western, N. pag. Print.
McWhorter, Kathleen T. "1." College Reading and Study Skills. Boston: Little, Brown, N. pag. Print.
Nist-Olejnik, Sherrie, and Jodi Holschuh. "7." College Rules!: How to Study, Survive, and Succeed in College. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed, N. pag. Print.