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

  • Michael Sullivan-Royston
    Carleton University
  • Marina Milyavskaya
    Carleton University

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

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