How to reset and refocus from setbacks*
It鈥檚 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鈥攖he from VIA Institute on Character鈥攃an help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses. The test ranks users鈥� 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鈥檙e doing and why you鈥檙e 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...鈥淕ive yourself permission to be human,鈥� Levy says. 鈥淧redict you鈥檙e going to make mistakes.鈥� One way to build resilience is by preparing for obstacles with implementation intentions, which are if鈥搕hen 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 鈥渟tretch zone,鈥� where you鈥檙e extending yourself to accommodate for different obligations. Periods of stress can actually be positive and motivating if they expand your perception of what鈥檚 possible. But it can lead to chronic stress when you don鈥檛 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鈥檙e sure you won鈥檛 succeed, you have to try. It helps professors immeasurably to see exactly where a student is getting stuck, plus you鈥檒l gain points for taking initiative.
Get down to the exact point that you鈥檙e struggling to understand. The most unsuccessful office hours are the ones in which a student walks in and says, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand any of this!鈥� 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鈥檝e pinpointed exactly where you need help, it鈥檚 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鈥檛 worry about sounding stupid or asking questions that are too simple. It鈥檚 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鈥檛 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鈥攚hich 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鈥檚 comfortable. However, this isn鈥檛 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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