Happy holidays to all our DCIE, UOnline, and University of Miami students! In preparation for 2022, we collected our top tips for success, which you can keep in mind whether you are studying for finals or creating a game plan for next term. Developing an intentional mindset around each of these important elements will help you reach your goals at the University of Miami and beyond.
1. ORGANIZATION
The key to staying organized is finding a method that works for you. With so many systems, trackers, and apps available to keep us on task, it can be daunting to find the right one for your lifestyle. If you’re feeling aimless, try going back to basics. Do you prefer to track your to-do list by hand or on a digital device? Is it helpful to color coordinate items by category or priority level? Can you break down long lists with a “must do, can do, should do” approach? Staying organized and committing to a system that fits your style will support your goals and benchmarks as the semester ramps up.
2. ACCOUNTABILITY
Track your progress in a visible, tangible way. Whether it’s the number of assignments, pages in an essay, or problems in a lab, getting to a halfway point is exciting, and reaching the last 10% is even better. If your coursework includes assignments that are quantifiable and planned ahead, as most do, you can create a progress tracker and tick off each piece of work as you complete it. This helps your brain visualize, understand, and tackle everything you need to balance and is an effective motivator as you get close to the end. You can even add straightforward assignments, like reading the syllabus or creating a study schedule, as some of your first tasks to kick that dopamine off with each checkmark.
3. INTENTION
Remember your motivation – what is your why? When you are struggling the most, let yourself be inspired by the long-term goal you are working towards. While it’s easy to rationalize blowing off an assignment or group project one time, that decision can have an impact on your larger ambitions. Whether it’s keeping your GPA up to apply for a fellowship, mastering a skill that will help you get your dream job, or simply walking across the stage at graduation, these big-picture goals help us stay committed to the little decisions that get us there.
4. EMPATHY
Progress is not a straight line. You will have ups, downs, zigzags, and roundabouts as you get from the start of the semester to the end. Allowing small setbacks to derail you gives power to the voice saying, “I can’t do this.” It is possible to keep yourself accountable without letting yourself off the hook entirely. Think about how you would encourage a friend with compassion and understanding and apply that same approach to your own inner monologue.
5. AGILITY
If a tactic or strategy isn’t working for you, you don’t have to stick with it. Letting go of techniques that aren’t working for us can be difficult because it requires the humility to admit that our first instinct was off or that our willpower doesn’t trump everything. But we save ourselves time and energy, as well as build up resiliency when we embrace the flexibility to reach a goal in multifarious ways. Remember, you can climb a mountain by more than one path.
We are wishing you the best of luck in your endeavors in 2022!
