Tools to help you set up and meet your goals

Check out the new site by Noomii - www.noomii.com

The site allows you to create a profile for free. By answering some questions, it gives you a visual representation of your life's goals and how well you're meeting them. You can then update things as they change. The site also offers a "Coaching Page" where you can set up specific goals and action items for each goal - all with due dates. The "Coaching Page" also allows you to schedule a specific time to either self-coach or coach with a partner of your choosing. (You invite a partner to work with in a separate section.) During the partner coaching sessions, you take turns coaching each other and checking on each other's progress. This helps provide some motivation and a nice visual way of keeping track of your progress!

Who are you?

After talking to a couple of students recently, I'm reminded of something I had forgotten - a lot of students don't really know who they are or where they're going. So, a lot of you haven't declared a major, and many more of you are likely to change your major. That's ok. The whole point of college is to find out who you are and how to get there. That's one of the reasons behind the SDV class that you're required to take. As a part of the class, you complete the Career Assignment to help you select a major. You get advised on what classes to take for that major. And, you even go through some activities to figure out what type of learner you are or what type of personality you have. But, there's a lot more to who you are than just what you can get in one short class. Everyone should have at least a basic idea of what's important to them and some sort of moral code. It's important to take some time and think about things like this - ponder, ponder, ponder. After all, how can you figure out where you're going if you don't even know who you are?

Well, after some serious soul-searching of my own this past weekend and thirty-something odd years of trials and experiences, I think I've finally figured out some things of my own. I've come up with a list of "rules" for myself. Now, you can take them as your own, or leave them. It matters not to me. I just thought you may find it useful to see what someone else has come up with - and, just how many years/how long it's taken them. And, bear in mind - these are subject to change. I'm not saying any of my own little "rules" are perfect or won't get outdated (- or that they'll even work for someone else). So, keep in mind that you will need to periodically sit down and ponder through all of this again. And, remember - "Not all who wander are lost." Some of the greatest bits of knowledge and insights come from the process and pondering. That's one of the fun parts of life and of college. It should be an adventure - both fun and scary - but, still an adventure. Anyway, here's my list. Good luck on creating your own!

1. Any problem can be solved with some thought and a good glass of wine. (And - of course - I am NOT advocating that you drink. Alcohol is optional and should be consumed in moderation by those of legal drinking age. 'nuf said!)
2. Breathe. Oxygen is a good thing.
3. Follow your heart - until it's time to follow your head.
4. Look for alternatives.
5. Trust your instincts - even if they don't seem justified.
6. Things will go wrong. You will screw up. Do the best you can and learn from your mistakes.
7. You can always improve.
8. Never stop learning.
9. Appreciate good friends. They are few and far between.
10. Try not to make excuses. Be honest to yourself at least.
11. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." (Emerson) Don't be afraid to change.
12. "To be great is to be misunderstood." (Emerson) Get over it.
13. You are stronger than you think. Test your limits. Try new things.
14. Don't forget the importance of taking care of yourself sometimes.
15. The little things are important. "Details Matter." (Alberti)
16. Allow people to give you what you need.
17. It's painful, but it's only a growth spurt. This too shall pass.
18. Quit trying to be everything to everyone else. Just be yourself. They can take it or leave it.
19. You do not need to explain yourself to anyone.
20. It can always be worse.

Goal Setting & Time Management

For those of you looking for some ways to change your habits and make better use of your time, here are a couple of helpful links.

http://www.studygs.net/schedule/Weekly.html
This site can help you figure out where you're spending all of your time. It's also good for setting up a schedule on how to spend your time in the future and creating a To Do List (see the links at the top of the page above the scheduling tool.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
This site gives a brief description of Covey's book. Each of the 7 habits is described, and all are a great way to make progress in anything that you do.

http://zenhabits.net/2008/10/10-simple-ways-to-live-a-less-stressful-life/#more-1437
Finally, check out one of Zen Habit's latest articles on how to live a less stressful life. The whole point of time management is so that you can have more free time, less stress, and some sanity!