College students express difficulty in accomplishing goals, but setting goals can help individuals better define their future and use time in a better fashion, according to top psychologists and researchers from TED Talks.
In a TED Talk titled “What’s stopping you from achieving your goals?” Arvin Lal shares three necessary things for pursuing goals.
1. What you do with knowledge determines its valueL: The application of the knowledge you obtain is critical to your success.
2. Have a vision with clear goals: You have to know where you want to go and what you want to do.
3. Create a plan: This includes having a clear agenda to help you move forward.
Angela Carmela Fantone, a junior from the Philippines studying English, said, “First, I think of an action plan, and then go for it. I wouldn't formulate a formula that's set in stone, but I look for the most important thing I need to do, then I do it.”
Deirdre Aberts, a sophomore from Aiea studying art, said she gets distracted when trying to accomplish her goals. “I get off track from finishing tasks when I feel like I have too much to do.
“If I feel overwhelmed, instead of trying harder I get upset because I don't think I can do it. I give up or take way too many breaks, which in the end stresses me out even more because then I'm behind. So, prioritizing and taking it one [step] at a time helps avoid that,” she said.
In the TED Talk titled “5 Ways to Kill Your Dreams,” Bel Pesce highlights tips for people to avoid while working towards goals:
1. Believe in overnight success
2. Believe someone else has the answers for you
3. Decide to settle when growth is guaranteed
4. Believe the fault is someone else’s
5. Believe that the only things that matter are the end goals themselves
Aberts said, “I figure out what the goals are, and I prioritize them. I'm a very visual thinker so writing things down really helps me do that. Then I start working on what I think is most important and move down the list.”
Fantone said, “I do what I do with short-term goals but on a larger scale. This time, I need to take bigger and more complex steps while doing the little things that matter.”
In another TED Talk titled “Keep your goals to yourself,” Derek Sivers says, “Telling someone your goal makes it less likely to happen.” He cites psychological and social experiments and says by telling others your goal plans, your mind is tricked into thinking the goal has already been accomplished, and less motivation is generated thereafter.
Vince James, a freshman from Arizona studying computer science, described how he prefers to not set long-term goals, as it can “provide more interesting opportunities. College [can] help you diversify your interests.”
To learn more about goal setting techniques and principles in TED Talks, visit the official website at www.ted.com.
Writer: Hyram Yarbro