| Studies have shown that students who set specific, | | | | you're on track to achieve them; "Get fitter" isn't a |
| written goals are much more likely to succeed in life | | | | goal, "Go to the gym three times a week for a |
| than those who don't. Having a clear idea of what | | | | thirty-minute cardio workout followed by a weights |
| you want to get from your time at university - and | | | | session" is. |
| from life beyond your studies - lets you focus your | | | | Just writing your goals down helps you to crystallise |
| attention on the areas which matter to you. | | | | them, but jotting them in a notebook and shoving it |
| Here's how to set effective goals to help you make | | | | under your bed won't help much. You need to reread |
| the most of being a student: | | | | your goals on a regular basis - weekly, or even daily. |
| Be clear about what you want from your time at | | | | Try writing them out and pinning them on your |
| university | | | | noticeboard, setting them as your screensaver, or |
| Being a student isn't just about getting a piece of | | | | scheduling half an hour once a week to look at your |
| paper when you graduate. Nor is it just about | | | | goals and assess how you're doing - and whether |
| enjoying the freedom and socialising of the student | | | | you need to change any of them. |
| lifestyle. There are dozens of things you could use | | | | Be realistic about timescales |
| your time at university to achieve - and it's up to you | | | | One mistake that many people make when setting |
| to be clear about what you want to get out of | | | | goals is to be over-optimistic. Sure, you might want |
| these years of your life. | | | | to write a novel in six months, or lose twenty |
| Are you aiming for a great degree? Or do you want | | | | pounds in six weeks - but you'll be disappointed if |
| to launch your own business, write a novel, become | | | | you fail to meet your self-imposed deadline. Give |
| President of a society, or get relevant experience for | | | | yourself twice as much time as you think you'll need. |
| your dream career? Don't try to conform to | | | | It is important to set dates on your goals (otherwise |
| someone else's goals for your life: you don't have to | | | | it's very easy to keep putting them off till |
| become an investment banker just because that's | | | | tomorrow), but be realistic about your |
| what your dad wants. And don't be swayed by your | | | | time-commitments. |
| friends or classmates - if you'd rather spend your | | | | Share your goals with friends |
| Saturday night volunteering at a soup kitchen instead | | | | Letting other people know about your goals and |
| of partying, that's your choice. | | | | ambitions can be a great way to stay motivated and |
| Set goals in different categories | | | | accountable. If you can, get together with some |
| Goal setting doesn't need to be all about your | | | | like-minded friends who'll encourage you towards |
| academic life or your career plans. Try picking several | | | | your goals - this could be as simple as meeting up for |
| goals to work on, in different categories: that way, | | | | coffee once a week and discussing how you're all |
| you can make progress in multiple areas at once. For | | | | doing. Knowing that you'll be telling someone else |
| example, you might want to set goals involving: | | | | about the progress you're making can really help you |
| - Your studies | | | | to stay on track. |
| - Your financial situation | | | | Friends can also help on a practical level with your |
| - Your future career | | | | goals - for instance, if your goal is to eat more |
| - Your health and fitness | | | | healthily, you might have a friend who can teach you |
| - Your relationships | | | | to cook. If both you and a friend share a similar goal, |
| - Your spiritual wellbeing | | | | you can work on it together or alongside one |
| Don't try to focus on too many goals at once - but | | | | another. |
| look for the three or four areas where you most | | | | Enjoy yourself! |
| need to improve, and tackle those first. | | | | The final point about setting goals is that they should |
| Write down your goals, and re-visit them regularly | | | | be enjoyable. Don't force yourself to chase after a |
| Anyone can dream up lofty goals - and forget them | | | | goal which you're becoming more and more |
| the following day. Write down your goals, and be as | | | | discouraged about or fed up with. If your goals aren't |
| concrete and specific as you can. Goals need to be | | | | working for you - change them. |
| measurable so that you can tell whether or not | | | | |