How to reset and refocus from setbacks*
It’s human nature to want to correct weaknesses. But knowing your strengths and how to use them effectively can have a much more substantial effect on success and well-being. So how can you reframe your thinking? According to Deb Levy, the field of positive psychology offers many useful tools. One in particular—the from VIA Institute on Character—can help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses. The test ranks users’ character strengths from strongest to weakest, allowing for an objective view into where you excel and where you may need work. Making a plan to bolster weaknesses while remaining conscious of strengths can be a great strategy to ensure not just academic success, but personal fulfillment.
Achieving your goals depends heavily on how well you can manage your time. Levy stresses that the best goals are specific, personal, and flexible.
Feeling good about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it is the best way to ensure success. According to Levy, happiness often leads to success, but success on its own may not lead to happiness. As such, prioritizing your own wellness is key to reaching your goals. Levy says well-being consists of positive emotions, engagement, meaning, and achievement.
Even with a good plan, obstacles will arise. How well you deal with those obstacles depends on your perspective...“Give yourself permission to be human,” Levy says. “Predict you’re going to make mistakes.” One way to build resilience is by preparing for obstacles with implementation intentions, which are if–then plans designed to help people achieve goals. Setting these intentions gives you a default answer that helps you stick to your plan without having to deliberate or make a snap decision.
As a student, you may sometimes fall into a “stretch zone,” where you’re extending yourself to accommodate for different obligations. Periods of stress can actually be positive and motivating if they expand your perception of what’s possible. But it can lead to chronic stress when you don’t build in time to recover. Taking breaks, setting aside time for meals, and enjoying recreation can help fuel you and keep you on course to achieve your goals.
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Initiate your own academic growth*
First, you must attempt the work. Even if it feels painful and you’re sure you won’t succeed, you have to try. It helps professors immeasurably to see exactly where a student is getting stuck, plus you’ll gain points for taking initiative.
Get down to the exact point that you’re struggling to understand. The most unsuccessful office hours are the ones in which a student walks in and says, “I don’t understand any of this!” Chances are you understand the basics of a concept or the first few steps of a problem. In fact, you probably know more than you think! Understand where it all unravels, and take time to figure out the simplest way to explain that to your professor.
Now that you’ve pinpointed exactly where you need help, it’s time to create your list of questions. Coming to office hours with a written list of questions ensures you get the help you need without getting sidetracked. Don’t worry about sounding stupid or asking questions that are too simple. It’s far worse to struggle through a class because you missed a basic concept than to simply ask the right question.
Ask each of the questions you wrote down, one by one. Don’t be afraid to take your time. Your professor is obligated to be there to answer student questions during their office hours. (Of course, this gets harder during midterms or finals season when professors have more students to see—which is another reason to ask for help early!)
Last but not least, follow through on all the advice your professor gives you. In some cases, it might feel tempting to go back to doing what’s comfortable. However, this isn’t going to push you to learn something new. Step out of your comfort zone and follow the steps the professor laid out for you.
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