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Step One: Determine Your Long Term Goals |
Deena: I can show you six steps that will help you develop your time management skills. Are you ready to get started?
Brian: Well, that's why we're here.
Deena: The first step is to determine your long-term goals. To complete this step, you will need to complete several tasks.
Brian: Great, just what I need, more work to do.
Deena: Well, if this is going to work for you, you have to put some work into it.
Brian: I know.
Deena: If
you completed the Writing and the College Experience Module, you have already
identified some of your goals. You might want to refresh your memory by reviewing
the goals you listed.
Activity 4:
If you haven't completed the Writing and the College Experience Module, complete these two activities now to get started thinking about your long-term goals.
Activity 5:
Using the "My Notes" tool, jot down your long-term goals and campus, community, or other resources that are available to you to help you accomplish them. List as many goals and resources as you wish.
Long-Term:
Goal Resources:
Deena: The next task is a little more focused. You want to ask yourself the question, "What goals do I want to achieve between now and the end of the semester?"
Brian: That's an easy one. Just get done with it!
Deena: We all want to do that. But you need to reflect on your answer to the question about why you are in college.
Brian: What if I'm here because my parents want me here?
Deena: I can't help you with that..
Activity 6:
Semester Goals
The second part of determining your goals is to take a look at your goals for the semester. Wherever you are in the semester, take a moment to determine what you want to accomplish before it is over. At the same time, keep in mind why you are in college and what values are articulated in your reason for being in college. (The questions of why you are in college and how you can maximize your college experience were considered in Activity 2 from the Writing and the College Experience Module.)
Type your response using the "My Notes" tool on the right side of the tool bar at the top of the screen. List as many goals as you wish.
Semester Goals :
Reminder - Why I am in College:
Values Articulated in My Reason(s) for Being in College :
Activity 7:
Skills, Abilities, Resources (PDF)
The third task is to determine what obstacles may be in your way. Basically, you must ask yourself how you will go about accomplishing your semester goals given your skills, resources, and abilities. Then examine each obstacle and try to envision it as a successful milestone or marker for that goal. You might also want to do the same thing for your long-term goals.
Download and complete the Skills, Abilities, Resources worksheet (PDF).
Brian: There seem to be a lot of obstacles in the way of my setting goals.
Deena: What kind of obstacles?
Brian: Well, the first is finding enough time to do this. I mean, finding the resources, determining goals, and thinking!
Deena: Well, if you are to make the most of your college experience, at some point you're going to have to think!
Brian: You're right! I do want to get the most for the money I'm spending for my education. So where can I find the time to think about this?
Deena: How about when you are walking between classes?
Activity 8:
Reflecting on Obstacles
Now that you have outlined obstacles and thought about how they relate to your abilities and resources, take another moment to write a couple of paragraphs summarizing what you have learned. Using the "My Notes" tool, assess these elements and reflect on the obstacles and the challenges you face.
Return to the Time Management Lesson page by closing this page or go directly to the next section of this module.