Self-direction and planning are important to your success at university, as the associated skills and strategies help to keep you organised, motivated and on target to meet your own goals. Self-direction and planning strategies are driven by your own initiative, which involves monitoring and adjusting your own approaches to learning, setting clear goals, and taking accountability for your own progress (Cottrell, 2024). Self-directed skills mature over time and not only contribute to academic success, but they also nurture personal growth (Loeng, 2019). By improving your skills and the techniques associated with self-direction and planning you will be more likely to get the most out of your time at university.
There are also wider benefits associated with self-direction and planning. By improving your self-direction and planning skills, you can also help to develop your resilience (Piotrowski, 2020). Higher levels of resilience will allow you to face setbacks with confidence and persevere to ensure you achieve your objectives and goals. You will be more effective in your studies and have the skills to cope with challenges too. You can develop this skill further with the Resilience at University Guide.
References
Cottrell, S. (2024) The Study Skills Handbook. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Loeng, S. (2019) ‘Self-directed learning: A core concept in adult education’, Education Research International, article number 3816132. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3816132
Piotrowski, M. (2020) ‘Relationship of self-directed learning and resilience in healthcare middle managers’, International Journal of Self-Directed Learning, 17(1), pp.19-38.