Journal Entry #14

In this activity you will apply self-discipline by planning and carrying out a thirty-two day commitment that will help you achieve a goal in college. Making and keeping a thirty-two day commitment has a number of benefits. First, it guarantees that you spend significant time on task, which is essential to college success. Second, a thirty-two day commitment automatically provides distributed practice, one of the keys to deep and lasting learning. And third, it helps you make visible progress toward your goal, thus raising your expectations of success and your motivation to persist.

1. From your life plan in journal entry #9, copy one of your most important and challenging short-term goals from your roles as a student.

As a student my short-term goals is to pass all my classes, and ace as many of them as I can by December 11, 2010.

2. Write and complete the following sentence stem five or more times: I WOULD MOVE STEADILY TOWARD THIS GOAL IF EVERY DAY!...

•  I WOULD MOVE STEADILY TOWARD THIS GOAL IF EVERY DAY I do my homework and studying BEFORE fun with my friends and boyfriend.
• I WOULD MOVE STEADILY TOWARD THIS GOAL IF EVERY DAY I go to class and not make up excuses for why I cant go
• I WOULD MOVE STEADILY TOWARD THIS GOAL IF EVERY DAY I stay for all my classes and don't leave early.
• I WOULD MOVE STEADILY TOWARD THIS GOAL IF EVERY DAY I got enough sleep so that I could focus completely in school
• I WOULD MOVE STEADILY TOWARD THIS GOAL IF EVERY DAY I turned off my cell phone so that it would not be a distraction.

3. On a separate page in your journal, create a 32 day commitment Form or attach a photocopy of the one on page 121. Complete the sentence at the top of the form ("Because I know...") with ONE action from your list in step 2.

Because I know that this commitment will keep me on course to my goals, I promise myself that every day for the next 32 days I will take the following action: turning off my phone in class so I can concentrate.

4. Write your thoughts and feelings as you begin your thirty-two day commitment.
It may sound corny, but I think not having my cell phone on in class is actually going to be better for me. I only have one boring class, and that's math. Math is the only class I use my phone in. I think I use it because I feel like I am not really missing out on anything if I'm able to take notes, do my work, and text. I'm always texting in that class but I will turn off my phone and pay attention to class. After all, I'm paying to learn, not to text in class. I think it will be hard, but I think I can do it. I should probably just leave my phone in the car so that it's not even a temptation. I think I will succeed but it will definitely be hard.

IMPORTANT: If you miss a day on your 32-day commitment form, don't judge yourself or offer excuses. Simply ask your inner guide what got you off course, renew your commitment to yourself, and start over at Day 1.