Oftentimes, we, as humans tend to expect success when we aren’t even aware of what success is, which ultimately leads to anything but success. This is because goal-setting is fundamental to long-term success. After all, it’s difficult to get to the desired destination if you haven’t clearly defined where your destination is.
Goals help students in gaining perspective as they result in a collection of set achievements, meaning that they allocate their resources and time more efficiently.
Thus, in an attempt to explain how to attain the maximum success in life, we have condensed 6 tips, read more to find out!
1. Use the verb-noun structure
Action items are intended to drive you to action, they shouldn’t simply be part of a to do list. Each action item should begin with a verb, for example: “Attend every class”, “Review notes with study partner before major tests,” and “Finish homework each night.”
As seen in the examples, your to-do list should essentially consist of imperative sentences as action items compel you to complete the task.
2. Plan strategically and tactically
The strategic part of goal-setting is to ask yourself to plan with the big picture in mind, to plan ahead in time. For example: Simply writing “Join the track team” is not as helpful as writing down “Join the track team” with the forethought that you want to become the captain of the track team- you have to think ahead.
The tactical part of an action plan is to ask yourself to break that big picture into smaller, doable increments. If your action plan includes “Get an A in English,” the action items need to include the steps to achieve that goal: “Read 10 pages each night to finish my book on time”, “Annotate each soliloquy,” “Attend extra help sessions.”
3. Recognise when help is needed
Sometimes you might not be able to accomplish their goals without help from other people or sources. For example, if your action item is to earn a 700 on the Math SAT, you may need to get a tutor. The first step is to recognise that you need help, and the next is to have the courage to ask for it.
4. Stop and reassess
About once a month, stop and reassess your action plan. Sometimes circumstances and variables change, and those changes can affect your goals. Make sure you ask yourself, “Am I still going down the right path?” “Have any variables changed that will affect my plan?”
5. Review action plans regularly
It’s also important that you regularly check in with your action plans. A pro-tip is to keep your plan at the front of your binder so you can see and think about them often enough. An easier way to do that is to keep your plans in the Notes section of the electronic devices you frequently use.
6. Include a timeline
Some action plans and action items may be ongoing, while others have specific time requirements. For example, for seniors applying to college, action items with deadlines are critical. Make sure you include timelines when applicable, and encourage yourself to sync those timelines with your calendars to achieve the best results.