How to Achieve Plan-tiful Goals

Jessica Yee
Copy Editor

Looking back at many New Year’s resolutions, it seems that people’s lists are not so much lists of goals but of wants. Most people want to be more organized, more selfless and more well-rested, yet those are just words untied to any sort of commitment. What many people miss is a specific plan of action that would often turn wants into goals and goals into reality. A plan of action includes reflective analysis and sometimes smaller goals that hold people accountable. Starting there, it is easier to make better resolutions.
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Anti-Procrastination Revolution
Jason Zhu
Editor-in-Chief

It is common for teenagers to find themselves putting off important tasks and using their time inefficiently. Many people, especially high school students, suffer from procrastination at some degree. In order to conquer procrastination, one has to know what it is and how to identify it so that it will not chronically affect and stop one from fulfilling his or her potential.
According to psychologist Professor Clarry Lay, a prominent writer on the subject, procrastination occurs when there is a large time period between when people intend to do a job and when they actually do it. If a person is filling his day with low-priority tasks or waiting for the right mood or the right time to tackle an important task at hand, then the person is most likely procrastinating.
Procrastination is not something that can be conquered overnight. Breaking procrastination requires the adaptation of different strategies and persistence until the bad habits cease to exist. Disorganization can be solved through keeping a to-do list and setting time-bound goals while focusing on one task at a time. Large and seemingly-overwhelming projects can be dealt with by learning to break them into sets of smaller, more manageable tasks. More importantly, students should reward themselves after each completion in order to keep themselves motivated for more.
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Starting the Year Right
Samantha Lanzo
Staff Writer

When heading into this new year in such a rush, there are many things to think about alongside room for improvement and goals to strive toward that many people work to accomplish.
Some of these goals may be to become financially secure, lose weight and work on future careers. However, achieving these goals may not be as easy as they seem. Although it may be challenging and time consuming it can all be worth it.

According to Lifehack, people have kept their resolutions successful by following certain tips that kept them on the track to success. Some of these steps are to plan ahead, anticipate problems, write it down on paper, let people know about it to receive support and make congratulatory awards when certain steps toward the goal are met. These tips are very useful when trying to complete a goal because when planning ahead, it helps to get the necessary resources to ensure success.

However, when trying to achieve a goal it is also helpful to try and make a list of problems that might happen. When anticipating problems, they will be easier to solve when they do come around. Finally achieving the goal grants a feeling of euphoria and accomplishment, so always keep pushing toward that finish line regardless of any obstacles in the way.
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Benefits of Writing out Objectives
James Reyna
Staff Writer

Writing out plans as opposed to taking mental notes is a more effective way to remember tasks and objectives that need to be completed. Memory can fade and be forgotten over time, it is an experience many can relate to.

In everyday life, people have tasks that they need to remember such as homework, chores and appointments. According to the Positivity Blog, writing down thoughts is more reliable than taking notes mentally. By keeping a calendar or schedule people will be more mindful of their responsibilities.

Students attending Alhambra High School are given an agenda at the beginning of the year. Students should ask their teachers if they need an agenda; agendas enable students to keep track of what they need to do and stay organized. Some people also use the calendar app on their phone.

Using mental notes for every task will run the risk of forgetting and, therefore, missing out on some of the most important things in people’s lives.
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Trivia
Vicky Lam

After reading the articles, here are some topical questions to answer.
1) Which is the best planning method?
A. Going with the flow
B. Writing down and completing objectives
C. Waiting for the right moment
D. Thinking about success

2) What is the best way to stop procrastinating?
A. Breaking the task down to make it easier
B. Taking care of things other than the main task
C. Waiting to work under pressure
D. Taking a long nap beforehand to be more productive

3) What is the best way to create objectives?
A. Making mental notes
B. Telling someone to remind you
C. Creating an agenda
D. Writing one at a time then taking a break between each one
Answers: (1) B, (2) A, (3) C