#goal setting tips

[flamnhotlemon]

Setting Goals

(Find the PDFs for the post HERE and HERE)

Sometimes, goal setting can feel really daunting or even pressuring. "How many goals are right?" "Are these goals SMART?" "How should this goal be implemented?" "Is this even a goal???" These are some questions that have gone through my head when trying to plan out what I want for the year. Luckily, I've been able to work out a system that works for me and through this post, I hope it works for you as well.

Write down, haphazardly if you want to, what you want to see in your life. (No ideas for this? Go on Pinterest, grab a book, take anything that might give you any inspiration.)

While you're on Pinterest, make a vision board. (This helps, especially when you need some extra motivation, or when you feel like you've lost your way while navigating your goals.)

Organize your messily written goals into categories.

Choose 5 to 10 goals that you think you can achieve within this year.

Rewrite the goals in simpler terms, you can even use the SMART method.

Break down the goals into simple steps and decide how to apply the goals on a monthly basis.

Over each month's planning, take a step towards those goals (add it to your list of goals for the month).

Make a to-do list daily or weekly and include a step towards each goal (no matter how small - small progress is still progress!)

Write a letter to your future self, in case of any hiccups in the journey. Encourage yourself, explain why you're doing what you're doing.

Lastly, don't forget to celebrate and track all progress on your goals (this makes the process more enjoyable).

Wishing you the best with your goals! X's and O's, Elle.

[anewwriter3]

7 Simple Steps to Achieve Your Goals (Even When You Feel Stuck)

Imagine standing at the base of a mountain, staring at the peak. The top represents your goal, but you feel stuck, unsure of where to begin climbing. This is how pursuing goals often feels—overwhelming and daunting. Don’t worry; by breaking it down into small steps, you can achieve your goals without feeling paralyzed. 1. Recognize the Feeling of Being Stuck Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by…

[infobyjk]

The Specialty of Goal Setting: Achieving More with Quick Targets

Goal-setting is an essential component of personal and professional success. It provides direction, focus, and motivation, enabling individuals to turn aspirations into actionable plans. However, not all goals lead to success. To achieve meaningful progress, it is vital to set goals that are clear, realistic, and structured. This is where the SMART goal framework comes into play. SMART stands for…

[solarabelle]

Tarot Card Reading to End Your Year Strong and Plan Your Best 2025!

Kickstart your 2025 with this powerful 60 Second Tarot Card Reading by Solarabelle! Discover how to reflect on 2024, celebrate your progress, and set intentional goals for an amazing year ahead. Perfect for anyone seeking insight, motivation, and positive energy as the new year approaches.

Are you ready to end the year on a high note and step boldly into 2025? In this transformative three card tarot reading, we’ll explore Gratitude, Growth, and Goals—giving you the clarity, confidence, and inspiration to design your best year yet!

In this video:

🔮 Discover the hidden wisdom within you.

🎉 Celebrate the abundance you’ve created.

🧘‍♀️ Peacefully pause to plan with purpose.

This isn’t just a tarot reading—it’s your opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect with your true self in just 60 seconds. Imagine yourself stepping into 2025 with a sense of direction and excitement for what’s ahead. You’ve already done so much; now you're ready to channel that energy into an incredible new chapter!

👉 Loved this reading? Tap the like button, subscribe, and hit the bell icon so you never miss an uplifting message! 💖

☀️ Together, let’s make 2025 your brightest year yet. You’ve got this! ☀️

===============================

Disclaimer: This tarot reading video is for entertainment purposes only. Please remember that the insights shared are not a substitute for professional advice.

[toptips]

15 Essential Tips for Success in Life and Work: Achieve Your Goals with

Proven Strategies

[gatewayofhealing92]

8 Practical Strategies to Stay Motivated Through Challenges

Do you ever feel like life is throwing one challenge after another at you? Have you ever experienced setbacks that made you question your motivation and determination? How do you keep your inner fire burning when everything seems to be working against you? These are the questions that we all grapple with at some point in our lives. 

Join us as we explore the secrets to staying motivated and achieving our goals, even in the face of adversity.

This article explores strategies for reigniting motivation and persevering when faced with obstacles. We'll delve into the science behind motivation, explore common challenges, offer practical tips to help you stay focused and determined, and understand how leadership coaching can help.

The Science of Motivation

Motivation is a complex phenomenon influenced by various psychological and neurological factors. Understanding these mechanisms can empower you to develop strategies for boosting your drive and achieving your goals.

The Reward System

Our brains are wired to seek rewards. When we engage in activities that lead to positive outcomes, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. Understanding this connection can help you design goals that trigger your reward system and keep you motivated.

Goal Setting

Setting clear, specific, and achievable goals provides a sense of direction and purpose. Research by Locke and Latham (2002) suggests that SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) are particularly effective in enhancing motivation and performance.

Growth Mindset

People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. This perspective fosters resilience and motivation in the face of challenges, as setbacks are seen as opportunities for growth [Dweck, 2006].

Common Challenges to Motivation

Several factors can hinder motivation, including:

Lack of Clarity

If you're unsure of your goals or lack a sense of purpose, it can be difficult to find the motivation to take action.

Fear of Failure

The fear of making mistakes or not achieving your goals can be paralyzing and prevent you from even trying.

Perfectionism

Striving for flawlessness can be a major motivator, but it can also backfire. The fear of not meeting impossible standards can lead to procrastination and hinder progress.

Burnout

Feeling overwhelmed and constantly stressed can deplete your energy reserves and make it difficult to find the motivation to tackle even basic tasks.

Environmental Distractions

A cluttered workspace, constant notifications, or social media can significantly hinder your focus and motivation.

8 Practical Strategies to Reignite Your Motivation

Here are some practical strategies to overcome these challenges and stay motivated:

Identify Your "Whys"

Take time to reflect on the "why" behind your goals. Connecting to the deeper purpose can make them feel more meaningful and increase your motivation to pursue them.

Break Down Large Goals

Large, overwhelming goals can be daunting. Break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Completing these mini-goals provides a sense of accomplishment and fuels motivation to keep going.

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Don't let the pursuit of perfection paralyze you. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Every step forward is a step closer to your goal.

Create a Positive Work Environment

Designate a workspace that is organized and free from distractions. Personalize it with motivational quotes or inspiring images to create a space that fosters focus and productivity.

Practice Self-Care

Getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and engaging in activities you enjoy are essential for maintaining your energy levels and overall well-being, which can positively impact your motivation.

Reward Yourself

Celebrating milestones, both big and small, reinforces positive behavior and keeps you motivated to continue pursuing your goals.

Find an Accountability Partner

Sharing your goals with a friend, colleague, or coach can provide a sense of accountability and encourage you to stay on track.

Seek Professional Support

If you're struggling to overcome challenges on your own, consider seeking professional support from a therapist or coach. They can help you identify underlying issues, develop personalized strategies, and provide the tools you need to stay motivated.

The Power of Leadership Coaching

Leadership coaching can be a valuable tool for individuals facing motivational challenges. A coach can provide a safe space for exploration, help you identify your core values and goals, and develop personalized strategies to increase your productivity and achieve your full potential. 

Leadership coaching is an invaluable resource that provides individuals with the necessary tools, strategies, and perspective to effectively overcome obstacles, maintain motivation, and attain success across various aspects of their lives.

The Final Note

To sum up, staying motivated through challenges is crucial for achieving our goals and living a fulfilling life. By understanding the science of motivation, recognizing common challenges, and implementing practical strategies, we can reignite our inner fire and persevere in the face of obstacles. 

Whether it's identifying our "whys," breaking down large goals, or seeking professional support, there are numerous ways to maintain our drive and determination. 

Ultimately, by staying focused and motivated, we can navigate challenges, achieve success, and live up to our full potential.

[monicascot]

Your judgements are affected

We delve into the fascinating realm of human judgment and uncover the myriad factors that affect our decision-making process. From cognitive biases to social pressures, our judgment are constantly influenced by external forces. Join us as we explore the psychology behind judgment formation and discover how these influences shape our perceptions.

[honeytonedhottie]

how to cultivate growth⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🍡

GET UNCOMFORTABLE ;

u cannot grow where ur already comfortable so in order to grow u must get out of ur comfort zone, even if that means getting uncomfortable. like growing a muscle, you must put stress on it first for it to grow. in order to grow u must take action towards ur goals despite any fears that u may have.

MAKE NEW THOUGHTS ;

to embrace the next version of urself and to grow u should make new thoughts that serve you. as you know ur thoughts create ur reality so why keep around thoughts that dont serve you or even worse, self sabotaging thoughts? start saying ur affirmations and applying the law as a way to grow ur confidence in urself and creating ✨

HOT TIP ; start listening to affirmations tapes, i rly recommend high frequency guru on youtube for aff tapes but u can always make ur own too…💬🎀

FROM 0 -> 10 ;

i talked about this in one of my previous posts but i wanna talk about breaking down goals again because making one broad goal, at least in my opinion, can be daunting and ultimately ineffective. breaking it down is where its at.

break down goals into sub goals with tasks within them

make certain tasks a priority

at least 1% closer to ur goal every single day

dont focus on going from 0 -> 100. instead break things up into steps so that u dont intimidate yourself and burn urself out quickly. kind of like a rubber band. if u stretch the rubber band as far as it'll go it'll snap back into place, which leads me to my next point.

THE SNAP BACK EFFECT ;

the snap back effect can be summed up by the example that i used above. the snap back effect was coined by dr. maxwell maltz, author of “psycho-cybernetics,” to describe the rampant self-sabotage of personal improvement goals.

SO HOW DO WE BEAT THE SNAP BACK EFFECT ;

we beat the snap back effect through consistency and through sticking to ur plan. dont jump from 0 -> 100 because then ur just setting urself up for failure. jump from 0 -> 10 and so on so forth.

remember that life is all about growing and pursuing ur goals so make sure that ur helping urself grow and evolve.

[agirlwithglam]

S.M.A.R.T goals:

How to set and achieve your goals

What does SMART stand for?

S - specific. don't just set vague goals like "i wanna get fit" or "i wanna get abs". how are you gonna know when/ where to start? if you want to get fit: your goal could be "go to the gym for 30 mins everyday" or "i want to run 5k in under 30 mins". whatever works for you. some other examples: -> if your big goal is to get high marks on your next test: your "mini" goals/ steps should be to study everyday for at least 30-60mins. -> if your big goal is to get money/ become rich: your steps/ mini goals should be to save $___ daily first. and also figure out a way you can make a mini business/ get a job.

M - measurable. make sure that your goals are measurable- meaning that you should be able to track them. some examples: -> if your goal is to read more: then create or find a habit tracker or something so everyday when you read, you can mark it down for that day. ! recommended resource: James Clear's habit tracker journal- you can find it on amazon.

A - Achievable keep your goals realistic and attainable. if you know you dont have the time/ energy to read a whole book in 1 week, dont do it- otherwise you'll get easily discouraged. the goldilocks principle: don't make it too easy, where it doesn't give you a challenge, but don't make it too hard either, otherwise you'll get easily discouraged.

R - Relevant basically a WHY. why do you want/ need to accomplish this goal? have a motivation which drives you. make sure your goal is relevant to you in some sort of way. example: -> if you want to learn a language such as spanish, why do you wanna learn it? because you want to travel to Spain one day? to be able to communicate with someone? even if the purpose is as simple as "wanting to be bilingual cus it makes me feel cool and impressive" - if that motivates you, then go ahead!

T - time bound your goals need to have some sort of deadline or urgency attached to it- otherwise you could take all the time you want to start and procrastinate as much as you want. having a deadline for the goal will motivate you to take action sooner, than later.

how to use SMART goals effectively:

decide on the goal. (something that you actually need/ want to accomplish.)

break it down into smaller steps. (very small. so small that you can start working on whatever it is NOW.) you want to get high marks on your test? lets break it down. study 30 mins everyday -> walk to desk -> get material out -> identify what you need to study -> find your weaker topics & write it out -> create a planner or smth -> start studying. // need help? find videos online, go thru material again, find study tips, etc.

write them down. (helps you stay accountable. also people who write their goals down are 42% more likely to achieve them than people who don't write it down.)

create an action plan. (relates to the 2nd point. outline the necessary steps to take, identify resources, set milestones, plan for potential obstacles.)

monitor and evaluate progress. (regularly review your goals, mistakes, and progress. what could you do better to be more efficient and quicker? how can you learn from your mistakes?)

stay committed and flexible. (you really need to be committed to achieve the goals, you shouldn't just start off super excited, doing great in the first week then slacking off. you've made a commitment to YOURSELF. respect yourself enough to stick to it! but also be flexible with your goals. if you're reeeallyy not able to do it one day, plan to do a bit more the next day. stay focussed and don't get discouraged by setbacks.)

celebrate achievements. (recognise when you've hit a major milestone, and celebrate it! this helps you maintain motivation and a sense of accomplishment. and reward yourself!!)

random additional tips:

visualisation. (such a strong form of manifestation. everyday visualise yourself with your goals, feeling all the emotions and thoughts that come with it! visualisation can also really boost your motivation and drive to achieve it.)

PRIORITIES. (remember that also, all goals aren't equally important. prioritise the ones that really matter. this doesn't mean that you can't focus on the other goals, just make sure the ones that need more attention, get more attention.)

positive language. (use kind and encouraging words towards yourself. know and understand that you are that girl who can achieve ANYTHING she sets her mind to.)

seek support. (ask friends and family or a mentor for help. if you want, be careful tho, share your goals with them to help you stay accountable. and if you know a person who's achieved your goals, GET ADVICE FROM THEM! where better to get advice from than someone who's been through what you're going through?)

stay organised. (self explanatory. just stay organised. messy space = messy mind. clean space = clean mind.)

maintain balance. (of course your goals are important, but so is the age you're currently at. especially if you're a teenage, DONT WASTE THESE YEARS!! get out of the house! make friends! go to parties! LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST. also make sure that you get the adequate rest needed!)

write about your journey. (write about the struggles, the obstacles, how you overcame them, insights you got on this journey, etc. trust me, it'll be so interesting and helpful to read when you're older.)

[studtea]

academic resolutions that i will try to implement in 2025 ✨:

replacing more of my screentime with reading time, doing craft, spending time outside or moving my body

reading 10 pages of an academic article not related to my thesis each day. exploring and studying for joy and to expand my general curiosity and knowledge.

working consistently and realistically in small chunks instead of overwhelming myself with unrealistic expectations and getting burnt out or procrastinating

what are your academic resolutions for the new year? i’d love to hear them!

[glowettee]

✧ 5 journaling prompts for clarity✧

hey lovelies! 🎀✨

journaling has this magical way of helping us untangle our thoughts and bring clarity to what’s swirling in our minds. if you’re feeling a little stuck, overwhelmed, or just in need of some dreamy self-reflection, here are 5 journaling prompts for clarity that will have you glowing from the inside out. i personally use these prompts for myself, and they really help. ✧

1. what’s been on my mind lately?

this is your chance to let it all out. what’s taking up space in your brain? maybe it’s a project you’re procrastinating, a dream you can’t stop thinking about, or even a random convo that’s stuck with you. (pro tip: don’t filter yourself, this is just for you.) writing it all down can help you figure out what’s truly important and what you’re ready to let go of.

2. what are my biggest goals right now?

your goals are like your north star, they guide you towards your dream life. write them out, even if they feel or sound a little big or scary! even if it’s acing that exam, starting a new hobby, or creating a routine that feels amazing, this is the moment to get super clear about what you want. and remember, your goals don’t have to be perfect, they just need to feel right for you.

3. what’s holding me back?

okay, time for a little tough love (but in the gentlest, coziest way). what’s standing between you and your goals? is it fear? a lack of time? self-doubt? be honest with yourself, and remember: identifying the blocks is the first step to moving past them. oh, and don’t forget to sprinkle in some compassion. everyone has things they’re working through.

4. what makes me happiest?

this one is a total vibe booster. think about the little (and big) things that light you up. could it be your morning coffee ritual? late-night convos with your bestie? the feeling of finishing a good book? write it all down, and let it remind you that joy is all around you, waiting to be noticed. ✨

5. what does my dream life look like?

now for the fun part. close your eyes and picture your ideal life. what does it feel like? what are you doing? who are you with? where are you living? let yourself dream as big as you want here. (pro tip: the more detailed, the better.) this is the blueprint for your glow-up.

bonus tips:

make your journaling session feel special: cozy blankets, soft music, and your favorite pen.

don’t stress about perfect grammar or spelling. this is just for you!

revisit your answers every so often. you’ll be amazed at how much clarity and progress you’ll see.

xoxo, mindy <3

[thepersonalwords]

If you can dream it up, you can team it up.

Richie Norton

[anewwriter3]

Kickstart Your Year with Creative and Fun New Year Planning

The new year is knocking on the door, and it’s time to think about how we can make it a memorable one with some effective New Year Planning. But don’t worry—this isn’t one of those “New Year, New Me” lectures. Let’s ditch the boring resolutions nobody keeps and craft a plan that feels fun, challenging, and totally doable! Grab your notebook or phone, and let’s dive into a creative and practical…

[collegelifediary]

☆ 02.10.2023 ☆

Today was the first day of school; we officially started.

I had 2 lectures.

The first one was about operating systems, and we talked about all that happens when you turn on your computer and then turn it off, which was so interesting. The teacher was amazing; honestly, I really liked him. I'll study later today and make a post about it on @codingquill.

The second one was just a little introduction: the professor, again, seemed so cool and well-educated. In this class, we're going to study JAVA JEE for creating web applications. He already gave us an assignment to make the little snake game to check our JAVA skills.

Normally, this evening we would have 2 labs for these exact same classes, but the teachers decided not to do them because we just started.

How was I feeling today?

I honestly did not feel good leaving home. I've been having a depressive episode lately, and once I got to school, I saw my friends, laughed with them, had a nice time, liked the lectures I had, and felt SO MUCH better coming back home.

Which gave the conclusion that uni is actually a place that makes me really happy, and I am so excited for this year to be a good one.

Things I am grateful for?

My good health,

my intelligent mind,

my not giving up mindset,

my friends,

the privilege to study in this field, and the school I am in.

[tlbodine]

Conquer Your Writing in the New Year

Are you struggling to meet your goals and take your writing to the next level? Maybe the problem is that your goals aren't well-defined. Or perhaps you don't have a system in place for reaching them. Maybe you're struggling with procrastination, burn-out, and or just plain stuck. Whatever the issue, this triple-header guide can help you find a path forward.

With 60 pages of content, this guide will help you:

Identify what you REALLY want from your writing

Help you establish a plan for success

Give you step-by-step instruction for creating systems that work

Break down the REAL reasons behind writer's block

Give you the tools you need to tackle your unique challenges

This bundle includes interactive worksheets and plenty of additional links and resources to help you get started and keep going. Perfect for the start of a new year, or any time your motivation starts to flag!

[tamelee]

Hi I'm the person who asked for education advice.

I would like advice on almost everything you mentioned, the learning aspect itself and breaking down goals mostly. Also just the fear of failure haunts me a lot. Also, you're in your 20s right? Do you live alone, on campus, with parents? Is that hard to adjust to, if you know about that? I really appreciate you answering asks and giving advice on things not related to Naruto specifically haha. Love your art! Can't wait for the chaptered manga you're making 💜

Hi! This took me a while as I was stressing over some things, sorry about that, and yes! Well, I live alone currently and am renting an apartment. It is not hard to adjust to for me personally because I used to live in a house that was empty since I was… well let's just say I’m used to it, but when I traveled and studied/worked abroad I did live with other people which I thought was more difficult to adjust to. All of a sudden there’s so much noise and drama aaahhh >< hehe. 

I hope my tips are helpful for you— long post, read when you have time and grab your notes! 」(￣▽￣」)

.📙⤵

Small note: this system may seem like a lot of work or tedious for majority of people, but setting it up like this is the only thing that works for me and aids my struggle to focus. This post focuses on studying, but I apply this to a lot of other areas as well. I’m still readjusting parts where I feel like it can improve— of course, you can change anything in any way you like! I tried to make it as clear as possible ^^! 

My documentation style: I personally use Notion (almost a year now) to track everything while documenting and organizing my notes. I love how you can create the most aesthetic pages and build your space anyway you like. It helps me structure my life so much better than the note-taking systems I used to have. I'm not kidding when I say it really changed everything for me. For studying, but also other area's, which is why I affiliated with them. There are paid subscriptions, but everything you need you can use for free!

I also have template recommendations if someone does happen to use Notion! (Let me know if you're looking for anything specific!) However, of course you can use whatever program you want to document things/your study. Whatever you use, even if you just write it down on paper, I do recommend keeping it all in the same place by creating a singular overview so you can track your progress more easily, but we’ll get to that later!

My roadmap to achieve (academic) goals:

Goal Setting 

I think the most important thing is to set effective goals that are clear. Proper planning is essential to reaching goals and achieving good grades imo, as well as breaking down your tasks into manageable chunks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. It’s learning how you work, what fits your productivity-style and finding ways to make it easier for yourself.

So take a moment to think what exactly you want to achieve!

You can use the SMART-method (setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals), to give yourself clear targets to work towards and there are many articles on it if you want to know more about it (you can also look for helpful templates, there are many free ones you can find!), but I combined this with "The 12 Week Year”-method by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. 

(Although I would recommend this book, there’s quite a bit of fluff which will probably make it difficult to get through for people that are neurodivergent. If you’re interested you can also find summaries on Youtube in order to only gain the information you need if you want to use it to achieve goals, but I’ll break it down here as well. Summaries are incredibly helpful, but I’ll be honest and say I’m not sure how to feel about them yet.) 

The 12 week year describes lag and leading indicators in the context of goal achievement. I use these indicators specifically in order to make sure I can Measure my goals. 

I’ll explain with examples:

Regarding your previous ask, let’s take a goal like “getting high grades”. This doesn’t say much yet. 

There are probably several subjects you want a high grade for, so let’s break that down first. There are many smaller goals that exist in that. It’ll look something like this:

Overarching goal: Getting high grades

Individual goals:

Getting a high grade for subject A

Getting a high grade for subject B

Getting a high grade for subject C

Etc,—

Great start in getting clear what you need to achieve, but it’s still too vague, right? Let’s see these subjects as separate goals and break it down further with indicators:

Indicators: 

Lag indicators are the ultimate measures of success or results necessary to achieve your goals. They represent the outcomes. 

Leading indicators are the actions or behaviors that directly influence the achievement of lag indicators. They are individual tasks and the steps that you take to achieve the lag indicator.  

Note: Indicators must start with a verb (like: write, get, draw, finish, etc—) because it indicates directly what the action is you have to take.  Example: “Assignment” doesn’t tell you what to do. Transform it into “Finish assignment on [x] before 16th of May” or something like that. It depends on the goal. 

Now we get something like this:

(Overarching goal: Getting high grades) Individual goal: Getting a high grade for subject A

Lag indicators examples (what’s necessary to achieve the goal): 

Write Essay on [x] 

Finish assignment A

Setup project A

Start project A

Etc,— 

It’ll look different per subject and it may look different for you. Maybe you know exactly what you need to achieve per period or maybe they only let you know what needs to be done one assignment at a time, in which case you can focus on that alone and take it step by step.

It’s already nice to just write everything down and gain a clearer view of the things you need to complete. You’re not pressured to remember anything, because it's all here (I get stressed forgetting stuff). 

Now you have your overarching goal of wanting to get high grades and made a list of individual goals. We’ll consider these individual goals and focus on them because achieving those means your overarching goal will be achieved automatically. 

If you gathered the lag indicators for these individual goals, you’ll now know what (currently) is necessary to get a high grade for subject A and we can start breaking those down into leading indicators.  

It’ll look like this: 

(Overarching goal: Getting high grades) (Individual goal: Getting a high grade for subject A) Lag indicator: Write Essay on [x] 

Leading indicator examples (steps you take to achieve the lag indicator):

Understand exactly what the topic or thesis statement is 

Research topic

Organize, etc—

Write everything you are going to do in order to ‘write the essay on [x]’ as leading indicators. 

Reminder: as the SMART-method suggests: make everything as specific as possible so you can measure exactly what it is you need to do.  Example: “Research topic” can still be too vague but you can clarify what you need to research for what topic, once you understand what it is exactly you need to do. 

Putting in a little bit of effort and time now by breaking down goals like this helps me save a lot of time later, because I have to make less decisions and I’ll exactly know what to do and how much. Tracking your progress makes it a lot easier if you know what you’re tracking and as I said before: decision fatigue is a real thing and emotionally taxing! Making all the decisions before you start working really can help! 

Tip: before starting on the leading indicators, check whether your goals and its lag indicators are SMART. Make sure all of them start with a verb!  Tip 2: if you have trouble deciding where to start, you can refer to the ‘Swiss Cheese’ method which is a productivity “hack” that can help you identify which of your tasks takes the priority. This doesn’t help me personally, because if I planned out what I need to do that day it doesn’t really matter for me which has the priority because I have to rely on many other things, therefore I can’t plan what I do first. I feel like mentioning it anyway, because it can be helpful when making mindmaps. 

So in short:

Determine your overarching goal. 

Write down individual goals necessary in order to achieve the overarching goal.

Write down the lag indicators you need to complete in order to achieve your individual goal.

Break down the lag indicators into manageable tasks (leading indicators) and be specific on the action you need to take. (Example: don’t just put ‘writing the essay’, but ‘write [x]-essay for 20 minutes’.)

Now we can start planning!

Planning

Let’s say you have a week to finish this essay, once you have every leading indicator, you can start planning out what you will do on which day.

Efficient planning helps reduce stress, because you don’t have to wonder if what you’ll do today is enough. We’ll get to ‘tracking’ goals later, but stay open to readjust when necessary though! It is okay to re-plan because there’s always the possibility of something coming in between or you not feeling well! 

As I said before, I use Notion to document everything and I have a separate page for the overarching goals which include my lag indicators, but in my overview I created a table that shows all the tasks (leading indicators) that I need to finish per (current) week. It sort of looks like this: 

I automated it, so when I check off something the amount of times I need to do it (under frequency) that week, it disappears from my overview and I can quickly see my weekly (and overall) progress in percentages, but of course you can do this any way you like or just write it down somewhere. I think this way is great because I need less focus to see whether something's already done or not.

I know that sounds funny for people who don't have trouble with this, but genuinely anything I can do to make it easier for myself is helpful ><

We still need to keep deadlines in mind. I personally like to know what I need to do on which day within the week as well or I’ll end up having to do everything during the weekend. So, I divide these weekly tasks and assign a day to them on a simple weekly notepad I keep on my desk. It looks something like this: 

These days aren’t set, as I mentioned: it’s also important to allow life to happen and still stay on track somewhat :’)

When I finish something I color it!

So in short:

Once you gained insight on your leading indicators, you can start planning. This will look different for every subject, but the method stays the same. 

Create a weekly planning/overview somewhere depending on your deadline. And if necessary, divide the weekly tasks for specific days if you want on a separate planner.

Review your week on Sundays (or whichever day you like!) to see whether you’re still on track and readjust your planning for the upcoming week(s) when necessary.  

Combine Studying with your personal life

The reason why I use a written, separate, weekly overview is because I combine areas of my life on here.

Aside from dividing tasks for my study (the leading indicators) for specific dates, I add appointments that I may have (which I keep in my calendar app), projects, administration/financial-tasks or random things I need to do at home or for myself/others.

I know a lot of people that create to-do lists have trouble with it. If that’s you (me too), then we’ll take it a step further and plan our tomorrow every day.

I use simple note-paper and sort of write things down in order for that day, because it’s easy and quick to grab and scribble on. This really helps to focus on what matters right now. It looks like this:

This is sort of like compounding habits, but with tasks. Some things are much easier to do after one thing than another. A regular to-do list may not work because it doesn’t take into account the rest of your day like appointments or a personal routine you want to work on. It’s hard to gain clarity when all you see is a bunch of intertwined, random tasks— so here you’d organize them bit and add whatever is relevant. Like a little mini-planning for the day. 

On here I also write small silly stuff I have to do that day or keep notes I have to put somewhere else so I won’t forget. (Like appointments I suddenly get, or e-mails I have to reply to, something I want to check later, etc—) 

Tip: Let’s say after a while you still have trouble with this daily mini-planner, you can also just write down (3 or so) your most important tasks for the day and “eat the frog”. You focus on that first while ‘hiding’ all the ones that may not be as relevant immediately. (I’d still keep the other mini-planner though or transform your other tasks into “bonus-tasks”.) 

So in short:

Keep appointments in mind or days when you’ll be busy/outside when planning study tasks on specific days. Add the most important or time-consuming tasks first so you gain a clearer view how much time you have for the weekly study tasks.

Use this weekly planner to divide tasks throughout the week and then make a mini-planner for your specific day on a separate paper/document to organize the day.  

Keeping track

As I said during the planning-step, you can use Sundays (or other days) to quickly review your week and adjust the next if necessary.

A lot within my system is automated, but even if you’ve written it all down, it shouldn’t take too much time (maybe 10 mins, probably less), because you’ve done most of the planning already. You can easily see what and where it needs adjusting.

Be prepared to adjust a lot in the beginning though if you’ve never done this! Eventually it gets easier and you gain better insight how long you work on something or what is realistic for you to do in a day, which is totally fine!!

Tip: If you are more interested in self-development, you can also apply a review-session monthly, quarterly or per project to gain insight on yourself and where you’d like to improve. I personally do this quarterly, but let’s keep focussing on the study~! Tip 2: If you aren’t sure how to create an overview, there are also many, free SMART-method templates you can use. If you’re usually more a visual person, I’d recommend creating visual boards or just add images to make it more appealing. It may seem like it doesn’t do anything, but especially in this current world of distraction, images do help you connect information much easier and can influence how you feel even subconsciously. I do highly recommend doing so. (I personally use a theme per quarter/season >< it’s so extra lmao it’s a good thing I live alone let’s be honest because I'm embarrassing.) 

Studying & taking notes

Well this is a broad subject but I’d recommend sort of observing yourself for a while to really understand more specifically what it is you struggle with. (If you are.) 

Here are some examples for ways you can use notes. I used the ‘Second Brain’ method for a while as well, but I’m most comfortable with the Cornell method. I set it up like this: 

But the most important part here, is this: 

I can clearly see the subjects and the necessary information. (I usually hide them under some toggle text to keep things organized and not muddy up my overview.)

Study cards don’t really work for me, because I need to connect information together, but it’s worth looking into! It might be helpful for you. 

Tip: If you have trouble focussing because you get bored easily which makes you tired so you seek a quick dopamine rush even if that means you start cleaning your entire environment and you procrastinate, etc—… trust me you’re not alone. I do recommend researching whether a ‘dopamine detox’ will be helpful for you (which is not easy, I’ll tell you that). However, this may not work for everyone because sometimes there’s even more at play. That’s why a combination of strategies to make the actual act of studying as easy and clear as possible, is so important.  Tip 2: Always allow yourself to experiment with your routines and keep your health in mind, but if you continue to struggle, please do seek support. Tip 3: If you’re like me and you had to watch/listen to a lot of material, find transcripts or use subtitles! If you have to write an essay on a movie, it’s much easier to get back to information when it’s written down. (And it saves you so much time...) For many movies you can find subtitle files and you can convert them online to remove timestamps if necessary.  Tip 4: Ah, and for my fellow neurodivergent people… if noise annoys you and music doesn’t really help anymore, not even when it’s just instrumentals… see if ambient video’s that have slight random background noises (like a library for example) are helpful for you. For me personally, it’s such a game-changer holy sh- 

Fear of Failure 

Not sure if I can give you some advice on this, because I struggle with this as well. It gets a bit better though when I use this system because it lays down the groundwork for you and with that clarity it gets easier to focus on the task itself. Unless you plan it all out and then end up not doing what you set out to do, and you don’t readjust your planning weekly— it’s sort of hard to fail the action-taking-part. 

If it gets really bad and you end up avoiding your tasks entirely, because you get reluctant to take the risk of failing at something, sit down with yourself for a moment and think whether you may’ve set extremely high standards for yourself. See if you can allow a bit more room in your schedule. Refer back to the Goal Setting methods.

Tip: If you’re interested in making it a habit to study, I’d recommend you read ‘atomic habits’ by James Clear, or find a video that breaks the method down for you if that’s easier.

Know that whatever it is you want to improve in, there are ways to do it. If you feel like you get stuck on an area of your life, most of the time focussing on it with frustration will make it worse. Keep your ears and mind open for solutions while taking a break. 

I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere, any school or anything where they teach you how to actually study in the first place. They should tbh. I think it’s ridiculous they don’t, especially because we get more and more distracted and everything is literally designed to grab your attention and hold it for as long as possible until the next thing comes by. And I’m not sure if that’s helpful to know, but I do believe that realizing that studying in general isn’t easy and schools making it seem like it is by treating it like it’s nothing “you just have to do it” while not teaching you how to do it effectively... is bullshit.

Lastly, it’s all trial and error so please don’t beat yourself up over any of this. If you’re a perfectionist, please don’t feel like you need to set up a system perfectly before starting, because it’s an ongoing thing and not set in stone. It’ll only make you end up procrastinating for the sake of perfecting a system, which may make you feel like you're being productive but you don't actually get anything done and it's not what we want. That’s why it’s so important to be okay with readjusting when necessary! 

Hope there is something in all of this that can help you! Good luck 🌷^^~!

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Oh and thank you!! I also can’t wait to release the Manga. I practiced fic writing first and created a Cyberpunk-story, but I’m still a bit hesitant to share it >< (Perfectionism does make me slow as well, but I’m working on improving it 😌)