Lots of advice out there, most of it good but not very practical.

Try these steps for simplifying and acting on your goals one bite at a time:

1.  Lower your expectations

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• Long-term, high goals are rarely acted on.
• In fact, like new year’s resolutions, the bigger the goal the more readily it is dropped or ignored.
• Why? Because when we set expectations that are too high, it becomes easier to accept failure than try something we know we can’t do.
• Avoid abstract goals like “get better grades” and
• Instead focus on the process of getting better grades rather than the grades themselves. [/wpex]

2. Focus on little steps, not big gains

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• Create short-term, simple goals that are easier to reach and can be acted on daily.
• Focus on the little, day-to-day things, like
  • list out realistically the things you can do today.
  • check them off as you go along and you will feel good about them and see your progress.
• Give yourself a chance with little accomplishments rather than burdening yourself with huge expectations.
• Improvement is a process, not a high-jump contest [/wpex]

3. Be aware of why you procrastinate

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• Procrastination is about avoiding a responsibility in order to relieve stress over it by saying you’ll do it later.
• Recognize your own tendencies to procrastinate.
• Seek practical solutions and strategies to overcome it.
• We have tons of articles, podcasts, and webinars on procrastination on this website.
  • It’s crucial that you understand your own relationship with procrastination.
  • Please see our links above and get started on getting started on ending your procrastination! [/wpex]

4. You don’t have to do it all at once: just get started!

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• When you assume that you have to do it all at once, you are scaring yourself into not doing it until you have to do it — all at once at the last minute.
• The single most important step in accomplishment is starting.
• You can’t finish what you don’t start
• Don’t expect too much over yourself: instead, just get started.
• This will help you address your little, short-term goals rather than letting your long-term goals scare you away from it all. [/wpex]

5.  Ask your teacher a question

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• Just asking a question about your work defines it and makes it easier to figure out.
  • With a question you are taking a huge first step towards identifying what you need and establishing realistic steps towards completing it.
• Teachers love to be asked questions:
  • They will be on your side if you just ask them about it
  • Besides, they’re the ones grading you and setting the expectations for you.
  • If you can’t ask your teacher, ask a friend. [/wpex]

Notice how each of these five steps are about the same thing: focusing on the little parts of your bigger picture and just getting started on it.

It will all fall into place once you get going.

Good luck, and please let us know if we can help out.

– Michael