Even though there are a good amount of things on this list
you can start working on, I’m sure you have other goals and resolutions you’d
like to make for the new semester. Everyone does.
However, most people will just make them and then
immediately fail. I see it every year – I go to the school gym like always, and
Januaries always put me off. Droves and droves of resolution-making wannabes
curling in the squat rack and generally making a mess of things. In a couple of
weeks, they’re all gone.
Don’t be like them. For one, don’t curl in the squat rack (I
will hurt you), and two, don’t make vague resolutions that you won’t keep. Make
SMART goals:
S – specific – don’t say, “I want to get healthier”. Pick a
goal – a real goal. Something with specific reasons, requirements, and
constraints. Specify a benefit.
M – measurable – be able to measure your performance. A goal
like, “I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes” is great – you will know exactly
when you’ve achieved it, and you have something to work towards. Something
visible.
A – attainable – make your goal something you can attain in
the near future. If you can’t even bench 100 pounds right now, don’t make it
your goal to bench 225 right away. Shoot for 135, make it, and then raise the
bar.
R – relevant – is this goal relevant to your life? It needs
to really matter. A goal that doesn’t really matter to your life’s path isn’t
going to be fulfilled – you just won’t be able to keep motivation.
T – time-bound – you need to set a time boundary for when this
goal will be accomplished, so you are motivated to practice. The Alarm Trigger
isn’t made-up; deadlines drive our performance.
If you’d like, you can read more about SMART goals. Whatever
you do, just make some.
Thanks for reading my list of ways to start the next
semester off right. If you’ve already made some goals of your own, share them
in the comments below – maybe you’ll inspire someone else! Also, share this
post with anyone who could use a boost to make next year even better than this
one.
Thomas Frank
[Thomas Frank is the founder of College Info Geek. His email inbox is full of messages from buttloads of gangs that want him to join because he's pretty good with a bowstaff. Find out more at his author page.]
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