goals

More time for Writing

/ Ritamarie Hensley / Leave a comment

I want to spend more time writing. I have many projects in the works, but I often find myself getting sidetracked and not writing as much as I would like or at all. I just read a book that encourages writing at least 1000 words per day. I have some days where I don’t even write 100 words. I have many strategies to help me focus on writing, but so far, each strategy has not completely worked for me. Here are some of the strategies suggested to me:

Schedule a time each day to write

Most of us have some type of daily schedule, so it should be relatively easy to carve out time each day for writing. Making writing part of your daily routine will help it become a habit. A healthy habit that will perhaps produce a new article, essay, book, or memoir. Maybe you’re not interested in producing anything; maybe you just want to explore your creative side. Whatever type of writing you want to do, carving out time each day will help you reach your writing goal.

Write for just 10 minutes

After all, writing for 10 minutes is still better than not writing at all. Proudly, I accomplished writing for at least 10 minutes per day for several days until it just didn’t work anymore. Ten minutes was so minimal that it became easy to skip it. However, ten minutes is still better than no minutes. If you can stick to just 10 minutes, set a date for when ten minutes turns into 15 minutes and then twenty minutes. Hopefully, the ten-minute habit will naturally ease into more minutes because you are so immersed in what you are writing.

Find a Writing Partner 

Finding someone who has the same interests as you and will also hold you accountable for your writing practice is the ideal situation for meeting your goals. This strategy helps with reaching any type of goal. With a writing goal, you can set up a time to meet with a fellow writer to read each other’s writing. Or, you can meet at a coffee shop or over Zoom to spend time writing without talking. Just knowing that someone else is working will help motivate you to do the same.

Join a Writing Group 

Search the internet for a writing group near you. I searched my area and found over twenty possibilities. Some of the groups emphasize a particular genre, others have membership fees, and some have no conditions or requirements; they just like to write in the presence of others. These groups are more than writing at the same time; you will have people willing to read and comment on your work. Finding others who support you is not only motivating but it also helps you grow as a writer. You can learn from others’ writing approaches and their comments as well as learning more about how you can improve your own writing.

Finding more time to write is a common struggle for many aspiring writers, but it’s not an insurmountable challenge. By implementing strategies such as scheduling dedicated writing time, committing to short bursts of writing, finding a supportive writing partner, or joining a writing group, you can create an environment that works for you. Remember, consistency and perseverance are key. Even small steps taken daily can lead to significant progress in achieving your writing goals. So, whether it’s carving out ten minutes or an hour each day, prioritize your passion for writing and watch it flourish.

A New Start, A New Semester

/ Ritamarie Hensley / Leave a comment
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Although the leaves on the trees are gone and everything outside looks stark and bleak, this time of year can be a time for growth. Personal growth can begin at any time of the year, but a new semester is the perfect time to refocus goals and a commitment to learning. Setting learning goals can begin with a simple reflection about your last semester. Did you achieve deep learning? Did you prioritize learning over other parts of your life? Did you finish the semester feeling proud of the work you completed? 

If the answers to the above questions satisfy you, then you have nothing to change as the new semester begins. However, if any of your responses cause you pause, then you have the opportunity to make some changes before the new semester begins. The first step to making a change is to decide on one or two long term goals. A long term goal can last for several months and it takes small incremental steps to achieve the goal. Focusing on just a couple of goals will help you prioritize and make progress. 

You can begin by setting a long term goal and then making a plan on how to best achieve it. For example, if you know that you tend to procrastinate with assignments and would like to change that habit, you need to create a plan that will motivate you to complete assignments early. Perhaps you can create your own due dates that allow for extra time to complete the assignment days before it is actually due. And, if you succeed, create a reward system. Rewards can come in any form. You know what you like, so make a list of some of the rewards that might motivate you to complete your assignments by your “own due date.” 

Create a daily schedule, one that is reasonable and therefore doable. Sticking to a schedule will help you form a habit. Daily habits will help you reach your long-term goals. You can begin by doing an examination of how you spend your time each day. Many believe they have no time in their day to add another task; they already feel overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. Yet, if you take some time to examine each minute of your day, you may begin to see things that need to be changed and where you might consolidate your time. Maybe you spend too much time scrolling on your phone, watching TV or hanging out with friends. These activities do not need to be eliminated, but you can begin to put a time limit on how long you do each one. 

Once you’ve examined how you already spend your time and understand where you can add opportunities to work on assignments, create a schedule. Write it down and make it visible. You are in charge of creating the schedule, so create one that makes you happy. A schedule that allows you to take short breaks throughout the day. One that allows time to focus and accomplish and time to refresh and relax. The schedule does not need to be to the minute, but you should set aside blocks of time to work on school work. Time when you are energized and ready and open to new learning. Do you work better in the morning? Would you rather work after dinner? Or do you prefer short increments of school work throughout the day? 

Only a very small percentage of people keep their resolutions throughout the year. But, don’t look at setting a learning goal as a resolution. A learning goal can become a way of life if you create one that motivates you. A goal that will make you feel proud of yourself if you keep it. Taking small steps towards the goal can be a simple change. Focus on one course or just one assignment. Any small change will benefit you. 

New Year’s Resolutions and New Learnings

/ Ritamarie Hensley / Leave a comment
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It’s the time of year to reflect on the past and look to the possibilities of the future. As I write this blog on New Year’s Eve, I’ve thought a lot about the types of resolutions I’d like to make to be a better version of myself. Will I stick to each one? I hope so, but I’m also realistic and know that some will fall through the cracks. Sharing some of my professional resolutions in a public forum will hopefully help me achieve my goals… time will tell. 

2024 Resolution #1

To begin, I’d like to be more consistent with my Online Learnings’ blog. I feel so good when I post a new blog, yet I haven’t made time for writing, one of my favorite activities. Writing this blog is something I enjoy, so why haven’t I made it a priority? I’ll start small by creating a new writing schedule for myself. 

Making a goal achievable should begin with action steps, a way to make the goal possible. Setting aside a time to write each day will be a part of my daily schedule. The weekends will be optional, but I can set a time to write every morning during the work week. I’ll begin with just ten minutes each day because I know I can keep this schedule. Once I get into the rhythm, I’ll be able to add more minutes, and hopefully, produce blogs every 7 to 10 days, which is another goal of mine. How do I hold myself accountable? I’m going to keep a tracker on my iPad and tell family members about my plan. Keeping track and telling others about my goals will increase my chances of success. 

Resolution #2

In my professional life as an instructional designer, I want to continue learning more about artificial intelligence and how it can help instructors create amazing courses and students engage in significant learning. We all have a lot to learn about AI, and it will be interesting to see what 2024 will bring. Will instructors begin to embrace AI? Will it become embedded in our everyday tasks? Will students use it to assist them in their learning? 

Of course I’m hoping for the best with AI. The technology is rapidly progressing and it can be difficult to stay on top of the changes. At times I feel overwhelmed; it seems impossible to learn it all, but reading an article or watching the latest video 3 or 4 times each week will help me continue to progress. 

Along with seeking out and reading the latest articles, I want to use AI more in my everyday tasks. And, while I feel confident in my knowledge of ChatGPT, I’m eager to delve deeper into other AI technologies like Claude and Bard. Exploring their functionalities will not only broaden my expertise but also open new possibilities in my teaching and instructional design projects. 

Measurable?

How will I know if my AI resolution is achieved since it’s not really a measurable goal? While goals should be measurable, I’d like for my goal of learning more about AI to be charted through my writing, teaching, and designing. I will begin by keeping a log of the articles and videos I’m reading and watching. I’ll include the link of the article or video and write a brief summary for each. I’ve been collecting articles over the past year, but I don’t always create the time to read each one. Writing brief summaries and playing with AI technologies will increase my knowledge base, which will begin to show in my work. It already has to some degree, but I’m ready to do more and share more of what I learn and how I use these technologies.

Learning Goals

Include a learning goal as one of your resolutions. Creating a goal that involves learning something new, like my AI goal, is a fun way to keep progressing and improving. If you’re a parent, showing your kids that you’re still a learner is an excellent demonstration of the importance of lifelong learning. If you want to climb the ladder at work, share a new skill at a party, or just challenge yourself, create a resolution that involves learning. Noone regrets learning something new, so pick a topic and start exploring. Begin with just 5 minutes each day. We can all afford 5 minutes out of our day, so set a reminder on your phone and begin. 

More writing, more blogs, and more usage of AI seem to be the main resolutions for my professional side. I know many people don’t believe in making resolutions and many break them within the first week; however, I’ve always loved the idea of a fresh start, a new beginning. It doesn’t have to be on January 1st each year; it can be the start of a new week or month, really any day can be a do over. I’m going to get started tomorrow and let you know about my progress every few months. You’ll know whether I’m producing more blogs, but I’ll keep you updated on my progress with AI. Feel free to post a comment about one of your resolutions and how you plan to achieve it.

Sticking to your Goals with a Learning Plan

/ Ritamarie Hensley / 1 Comment
Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels.com

We all imagine possible scenarios about what our life would look like if we achieved our dreams and goals. While plenty successfully reach their goals, many fail because they did not create a plan of action. Taking the necessary steps to reach goals require determination, persistence, desire, and a plan.

If you are interested in learning something new, increasing your skills, or just enhancing your life, you should develop a learning plan. Learning plans allow you to work towards goals according to your needs and schedule. Learning involves acquiring new knowledge, new skills and abilities. There is no one way to create a learning plan because it must fit your individual needs. Some plans are highly organized while others change according to your schedule and commitment.

The plan begins with answering, what dreams and goals do you want to reach?

The End Goal

To begin creating a plan, you must decide what you want to learn. Educators often use backwards design, where they begin with the main learning objective and then create a plan to meet that goal. You must also consider backwards design when you first begin to create your learning plan. What is your end goal?

If you are searching for a new profession, consider which career is your end goal. If you are looking to enhance your skills and want to learn a new language, picture yourself traveling to another country and using your skills. Envision the end goal first, and then begin creating the steps to reach your goal. Keep in mind that this vision is based on what you want. When you are thinking about all of the possibilities, consider getting out of your comfort zone and learning new skills rather than relying only on skills you already have.

Conduct Research

Now that you have a vision of what you want to learn or do, you need to conduct research. Do you need to attain a degree? Are certifications required? Of course, the internet will provide a multitude of articles and blogs dedicated to your new skill or desired profession. But, along with reading, try to find someone who is doing exactly what you want to do. Mentors offer invaluable knowledge and expertise. They can give you advice on possible pitfalls to avoid and opportunities to pursue. Finding a mentor is not as difficult as you might imagine; talk to friends who may know someone or reach out through social media. Many people relish the idea of becoming a mentor. Afterall, it is the ultimate compliment to someone who is living your dream.

Small Steps and Small Goals

Now that you have more knowledge about how to achieve your learning goal, you can begin creating small steps that need to be taken in order to reach your desired outcome. These steps should be measurable. For example, if you are trying to learn a new skill, require yourself to work on it for twenty minutes each day. Or, tell yourself you will attend every class and participate fully. The first step may be as small as finding a course and then signing up for it. If you are a procrastinator, set a date. The easiest way to actually reach the goals you set is to keep them simple and write them down.

Focus and Commitment

With the plan in place, you must create a lifestyle that allows you to focus on your plan. If part of your plan requires you to set aside time each day to learn something new, then you must create a schedule that encourages this new behavior. If you need to wake up 15 minutes earlier to work on your learning, make this part of your schedule. You must change your behavior to match your learning plan.

Changing behavior requires commitment and a motivation to succeed. You know yourself, so if you need to write down reminders and place them throughout your living space, do it. If you need to reward yourself as you reach specific milestones, then do it. Whatever it takes to encourage you to remain committed and focused will help you stay the course.

Stay on Top of It

Along with reminders and rewards, enlist family and friends to help you with your learning plan. Holding yourself accountable can be difficult, but if you enlist a friend or family member to help you stick with your plan, you will feel obligated to complete the task and guilty if you don’t.  In fact, the more people you tell, the more likely you will be asked about your progress. These simple inquiries may be just what you need to stay on top of your plan. Sticking to a learning plan and reaching your goals will only benefit you; however, getting through the rough patches, when you don’t feel like committing or working, is the hardest part.

Use What You Learn

True learning involves changing behavior. With each new skill you learn, use it. If you are learning a new language, find opportunities to practice your new skill. The more you practice and put your new skill to use, the more likely you own it. Find ways to share your knowledge; use it at work, create a digital portfolio, write a blog, or teach someone else.

Creating a learning plan is essential when you truly want to reach a goal. Remember, the plan and the dream are yours to create. Set yourself up for success and create a personal learning plan that works for you and meets your individual needs.