Setting Goals with Tips From James Clear

Many people believe that they lack motivation when in reality they lack clarity. When and where to take action isn’t always obvious. Often, people wait for the right time to improve before taking action.

Goal setting can be done without waiting for inspiration to strike. Do I write a chapter today or not? Should I meditate this morning or at lunch? There is no need to make a decision when the moment of action occurs. Follow your predetermined plan.

This is the easiest way to apply the strategy to your habits:

I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION].

Without a plan, your behavior is determined by your willpower and motivation. When you plan out when and where you will perform a new behavior, your goal has a timings.  Alos e and a place. Your new behavior is triggered by this change in perspective.

Beginning a new venture can be challenging and sometimes even overwhelming depending on what it is.  Setting goals is critical to succeeding in a doctoral program.

My goals for navigating my program are:

1) This year, I will complete all of my assignments at least one day before they’re due to avoid rushing. In order to accomplish this, I will list my assignments by their due date and work through them accordingly. Every Sunday night, I will spend 30 minutes determining which projects need attention during the week

2) By the end of the year, I will have developed five new peer relationships.

3) To expand my knowledge base, I will read at least 400 pages every month of material that is not assigned in class. I will do this by reading for two hours on the weekends and 30 minutes daily Monday through Thursday.

4.) To stay focused on my studies, I will limit the use of social media.