Students at UW should not give up hope if they are tapering off on their resolutions, for they have access to the services of individuals whose jobs are dedicated to students’ growth into self-confident human beings.
Aiding student success in life is something the University of Wyoming Wellness Center, in particular, is all about, through services and events both paid and free to the students and citizens of Laramie.
Start going to the gym. Go for a run every morning. Eat less, sleep more. Be ten minutes early to class. A new year, a new you! New year’s resolutions have long been a staple of society, but it’s not at all uncommon for a bright flame to quickly burn out.
“You actually have to make some life choices and you already have your routine set,” senior student Erin Heald said. “It’s difficult coming back into school and changing that routine, you actually have to change aspects of your life if you want to stick your resolution.”
Assistant Director of the Wellness Center, Lena Newlin, emphasizes the importance of being realistic and working your way up to achieve your goals. Students are often defeated by their own lofty goals as soon as they make them, so starting on the right foot is the key.
“Ambition is necessary, but setting attainable goals is healthy and important,” Newlin said. “When maintaining overall wellness, set yourself up for success so that you can build on previous victories and move onward and upward.”
Newlin advocates a tried and true approach that may be familiar to some students: making your goals S.M.A.R.T., following guidelines originally set forth by George T. Doran in a 1981 essay titled “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives.” Since then, his system for doing better business has been adopted for use on college campuses throughout the nation.
The S.M.A.R.T. system provides those who wish to better themselves a simple, manageable framework to focus on and give their starting initiative some direction, avoiding vague intentions and distractions.
A clear intent is the first step: make the goal specific so you know where you want to end up. Without that, students lack the right follow-up for an initial motive.
The goal should also be measurable. Even if it’s not something with quantities to track, students can record their progress in a journal. What’s important is to be aware of progress as it’s made to create a feedback loop.
For the next step, Doran’s original acronym advised that the goal be assignable, but the modernized version Newlin presents to students uses the word achievable. Don’t let your reach exceed your grasp.
“Be proud of yourself for taking steps to better yourself and enjoy your success,” Newlin said.
Even with these boxes checked, it’s important that the goal is relevant. Students should choose a goal that matters to them and is something they’re personally invested in, rather than something rated as important by outside influences.
Finally, the goal should be time-bound. Without an expectation of oneself to make definable progress, it’s easy to continue kicking the can of self-improvement down the road.
In addition to making one’s goal a S.M.A.R.T. one, Newlin advised students to consider support from outside sources to achieve the objectives they set for themselves, whether professional or personal.
“Goals are more attainable through a team effort, so never be afraid to ask for help or encouragement,” Newlin said.
A quick look at the wellness center’s site shows that primary prevention in matters of both physical and mental health is their focus. Achieving success and avoiding failure through proactive efforts to improve and prepare oneself for the future.
