lecture 8: Goal setting and time management

Date: 16 Mar 2024

Activities: 

Today in English class, our teacher introduced us to an interesting exercise that combined creativity and a bit of competition with ourselves. He asked us to draw as many smiley faces as we could within a minute. Before starting, we were supposed to set a target for how many we thought we could draw within that time. The idea was to challenge ourselves and see if we could meet or exceed our own expectations.

In the first round, we set our targets and then drew as many smiley faces as we could within the minute. After the time was up, we counted our smiley faces and compared the number we actually drew to the target we had set.

In the second round, we set new targets, possibly higher based on our performance in the first round, and drew again. We then compared the results once more.

By the third round, we had a better sense of our drawing speed and capacity. We set our targets and this time, many of us were able to match or come very close to our set targets.

Our Teacher taught us about:

1. Goal Setting: The importance of setting realistic and achievable goals.

2. Self-Awareness: Understanding our capabilities and limitations.

3. Improvement Through Practice: Recognizing that we can improve our performance with practice and by setting new, higher goals.

4. Self-Monitoring: Keeping track of our progress and adjusting our goals based on our performance.

Reflection:

From this exercise, I understood:

1. The Value of Setting Targets: Setting a clear target helps us focus and strive to meet specific objectives.

2. Performance Evaluation: How to evaluate our own performance and make adjustments to improve.

3. Confidence Building: As we practiced, our confidence grew in our ability to achieve or exceed our targets.

Uses

1. Discipline in Goal Setting: This exercise teaches us how to set goals in other areas of our lives, whether academic, personal, or professional.

2. Self-Improvement: By continuously setting and achieving goals, we learn how to improve ourselves incrementally.

3. Time Management: Understanding how to use time effectively to achieve as much as possible within a given period.

By participating in this activity, we gained a practical understanding of how goal setting and practice can lead to improved performance, not just in drawing smiley faces but in various aspects of life.