APS

2025 APS Annual Convention · 2025

Invested in Goal Pursuit: University Students Spend More Than Half Their Time Pursuing Personal Goals

Washington, DC · May 2025

Poster · Personality/Emotion

Session: Poster Session II

Authors

Abstract

How much time do people invest in their goals? Canadian undergraduates participated in a week-long experience sampling study. They spent 51% of their time on activities benefiting their goal, 23% on unrelated activities, and 26% on activities detracting from it. Time investment patterns varied slightly between academic and non-academic goals.

Goals