Goal setting

Your assignment for today is to set a goal for this program. Think about what you would like to get out of it and fill out the assessment above.

• Take a moment to write down what you are doing well to manage stress, and which areas of life you would like to improve.

• Your goal for this challenge might be:

  • to do more of what is working (i.e. packing lunches the night before school)

  • to replace what isn't working (i.e. decrease social media scrolling from 30 minutes daily to 10 minutes daily)

• Consider the following:

  • How would you know you are less stressed?

  • Is there something about your life that would be different?

• Examples of how your life might change could be:

  • Sleeping better

  • Being less distracted or frustrated

  • Feeling motivated to exercise more.

We recommend using S.M.A.R.T. goals for this challenge. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, we have provided you with a breakdown and an example below. Once you have read through this, fill out the assessment above to set your goal(s). Then write your goal down or snap a picture of it, to remember it as you go through the challenge.

S - Is it Specific? (What exactly do you want to accomplish?)

M - Is it Measurable? (How will you know you’ve accomplished it?  =Can you quantify it - i.e. do ________ 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Can you break it into smaller goals?)

A - Is it Achievable? (Can you actually do it in the timeframe you set? Is it challenging enough? Also consider what resources you will need!)

R - Is it Relevant? (Do you actually want to do this? What is the WHY?)

T - Is it Timebound? (When do you want to complete this goal? When does it start?)

Example of an okay goal: 

"We hope to experience less stress."

Example of a S.M.A.R.T. goal:

"We hope to complete each activity in Strengthening Connections, starting May 1st and ending June 1st, and we will reduce our stress by spending quality time outside together every week for an hour."