Goal Setting Guide: Getting Started On Your Goals

“A Goal Without A Plan is Just A Wish” – Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Setting goals is great, but at some point you’ll need to get started (which is often the hardest part). It’s easier to build momentum when you plan the first steps of your journey. Don’t forget the details! Make sure your plan provides a clear sense of who, what, when, where, and how. So, let’s say your goal is to read and take notes on 10 articles for your research paper in the next five days. If we break it down, here’s what it looks like:

Who

You. But who knows, you might need to reach out to someone else for help. This could be a reference librarian, your professor, maybe even a buddy. Anyone who can offer guidance on finding high quality articles.

What

You’ve got that figured out - reading and note taking. Part one: find 10 articles. Part two: read and take notes.

When and how

Reading and taking notes on 10 articles all at once seems like a bit much, so break up the work among a few different days.

• Sunday: Library from 1:00-3:00 researching and collecting ten articles
• Monday: Library from 5:00-6:30 read 3 articles + take notes
• Tuesday: Library from 4:00-5:30 read 4 articles + take notes
• Thursday: Library from 5:00-6:30 read 3 articles + take notes - DONE!

Where

Pick a distraction-free spot where you can get your work done without interruptions. Stay away from common areas such as living rooms or kitchens. If you think you might get distracted in your room, work in the library. You should work wherever you’ll focus best.

Check out how this plan looks when you put it into a weekly calendar: