Lesson 1, Topic 1
In Progress

Set self-care goals

OK, so now that you know about self-care, let’s set SMART goals. SMART goals are a framework for setting clear, achievable objectives. SMART stands for:

Specific: The goal should be clear and specific, avoiding vagueness to provide focus. Measurable: It should have criteria for measuring progress and success. Achievable: The goal should be attainable, realistic, and not impossible to achieve. Relevant: It needs to be relevant and important to you. Time-Bound: The goal should have a clearly defined timeline, with a start and end date.

Here are some examples of smart goals.

“I will achieve a grade of B or higher in my Introduction to Psychology course by the end of the semester. To accomplish this, I will dedicate two hours to study this subject every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting from the first week of the semester. I will track my understanding and progress through weekly quizzes and seek help from my professor or a tutor if my quiz scores are consistently below 80%.” 

This goal is:

Specific: It targets a particular grade in a specific course. Measurable: Progress is measured by quiz scores and the final grade. Achievable: It sets a realistic grade target and a manageable study schedule. Relevant: It aligns with academic success, a key objective for students. Time-Bound: It has a clear deadline (end of the semester) and a defined weekly study schedule.

“I will improve my health and fitness by exercising for 30 minutes, three times a week, at the campus gym. I’ll start next Monday and do it the entire semester. I will track my consistency and progress by adding the date to a specific note in my phone whenever I go. I’ll know that I’m getting stronger by being able to lift 10% heavier weights (compared to the start of the semester) by the semester’s end.”

This goal is:

Specific: It focuses on exercising at the campus gym for a set duration and frequency. Measurable: Progress is tracked by adding a phone note and specific fitness milestones (lifting heavier weights). Achievable: The routine is realistic and manageable within a student's schedule. Relevant: It directly contributes to the student's physical health and fitness. Time-Bound: It has a defined start date, weekly schedule, and an end goal by the semester's end.

Next, you will set some self-care goals for yourself.