by: Shekeitha L. Jeffries, Assistant Director of Student Life

The start of a new year is exciting, as it provides us with an opportunity to hit the reset button and begin anew! For many graduate students, a new year provides another chance to accomplish goals, that they were unable to achieve during the previous academic year.  According to an article published by U.S. News & World report, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. If you are struggling to keep up with your new year resolutions, don’t worry! Outlined below are a few strategies adapted from a Forbes.com article, to help you hit the mark and accomplish your goals.

• Create A Clear Vision: Develop a clear vision of what you want to accomplish and anchor it on why you want to achieve it. For example, what is your vision as a leader in public health? What public health crisis do you want to solve? Why do you want to solve it?
• Commit to Two or Three Goals: You may have many academic and career goals that you want to accomplish within the next 2-3 years.  However, to help ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed, begin with 2-3 goals that you believe, will have the most impact on your life right now. Be sure that your goals are SMART goals and begin working on them today. Once you have completed your initial three goals, identify 2-3 more and start again.  
• Make A Commitment and Then Stay Consistent: As a graduate student, you may have a very demanding schedule with your personal life, classes, assignments, teaching assistantships, etc. However, you can accomplish anything that you set your mind too. Identify a strategy that resonates with you and stick with it, as commitment and consistency is key.
• Write A Letter to Your Future Self:  Write a letter to yourself when you are eighty years old. What goals did you set? What goals did you achieve? What are you most proud of accomplishing in your lifetime? Use the answers to those questions to define your goals and action steps from there.

If you need additional support with goal setting, please contact the Office of Student Life to schedule a coaching session today.