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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

Some would say there is no better time to start a new habit than alongside a change. For college students, the beginning of the spring semester coincides with the start of the new year, bringing the opportunity of a brand new year full of opportunities and changes personally and academically. Have a new habit you want to form or an old habit you just can’t seem to kick? Whether it is something simple as drinking more water or more complicated like retraining your thought patterns, these five strategies will help set those goals in stone by summertime.

Be intentional  

Without exact metrics, it’s easier to let yourself forget about your goal. Instead of deciding to wake up earlier, define the exact time you would like to wake up and how you will track if you woke up on time every day. This gives you a more concrete goal to work towards and self-accountability. One easy method to do this is with the S.M.A.R.T. goal system, popularized by George T. Doran in 1980 and widely used in corporations and schools ever since.

Write them down

Writing down your goals to increase the likelihood of them becoming a reality has been adopted by both spiritual and scientific perspectives. A 2015 study by psychologist Gail Matthews stated that those who wrote down their goals were 33 percent more successful in achieving them than those who formulated outcomes in their heads. On the faith-based side, the practice of scripting suggests writing down what your life would be like if you already achieved that goal and visualizing the changes you would like to attract while writing. 

Use apps to your advantage

If pen and paper isn’t your thing, try using technology to help you reach your goals. Using the reminders app, you can easily set up timed sweet notes to keep yourself on track. The majority of the goal tracking, fitness, and wellness, apps out also offer their own reminders built-in when you install that you can activate with just a tap. What if your goal involves decreasing your screen time? Use the App Limits tool in your settings or adjust your Do-Not-Disturb parameters to help you stay focused.

 70% rule 

One of the hardest things about reaching goals is staying consistent. After slacking off, it can be hard to get back on track or not get discouraged. A great way to navigate this is using the 70% rule. The rule suggests that you only strive to accomplish 70% of what you are trying to achieve. This way, if you reach your goal by more than 70% you have already succeeded. Using this strategy puts more focus on continuing to grow and taking your time with yourself instead of solely focusing on perfection. 

Have fun 

Lastly, don’t take setting your goals too seriously. Get creative with how you can adapt them over time. For example, if your goal is to work out, think of other ways to achieve your fitness goals other than hitting the gym with a routine. Try a dance class out or go hiking with friends to allow your goals to become integrated into your lifestyle instead of the rigid concepts you are adding in. Enjoying what you do is key to all of the other suggestions explained above because the more you enjoy what you do, the more likely you are to do it over again. 

If you’ve made it to the end of this article, you’ve already taken the first steps towards your goals by educating yourself on how to do everything you can to reach them. Implementing even one of these strategies is sure to make the journey there a little easier and help you make your dreams a reality. 

Taya Coates is a senior studying fashion merchandising and minoring in journalism. She hopes to pursue a career as a fashion editor and eventually start her own publication. She is passionate about covering stories on style, social activism, and culture.