2 Goal Setting: Developing Goals

It is important to have goals to work toward during every stage of a thesis project, as the process is most likely much less structured than others you have encountered in your education so far. It can also be overwhelming to try to think about the entire thesis at once. To combat that overwhelmed feeling of wondering where or how to begin, it can be helpful to break down the work you need to do into smaller, more manageable chunks, with actionable, time-sensitive pieces.

Preliminary goal setting tips

• Set goals you control. If your goals depend on the actions of others, have a plan B or shift focus to a goal you can control. So, if the book you are awaiting does not come through from interlibrary loan, move on to another aspect of the project. If your advisor is late returning comments on a chapter, shift to writing or revising another section.
• State your goals in positive terms. Write what you want to happen, not just what you want to avoid.

Developing manageable goals

When you are setting your goals for the week, the month, the semester, or even the year, make sure that those goals are attainable. Set “S.M.A.R.T.” goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Limited: