Your first year in college will be full of exciting and challenging opportunities. Learning how to set goals is an essential skill that will help you tackle deadlines, academic stress and stay on top of your classes.
A useful goal setting method is SMART. Follow the criteria below to create your own SMART goals and check out additional resources at our library.
| S | Specific | What will be accomplished? What actions will you take? Be as specific as possible, details will keep you focused. |
| M | Measurable | What data will help you measure progress? Think of specific signs that you are moving towards your goal. |
| A | Achievable | Is the goal doable? What can you do to set yourself up for success? |
| R | Relevant | How does the goal align with broader goals? Why is the result important to you? A goal that is personally significant will keep you motivated through challenges on the road. |
| T | Time-Bound | What is your time frame for accomplishing this goal? Setting a realistic deadline will keep your goal grounded and urgent. |
Source: SMART Goals: A How To Guide by University of California.
Check out these resources on goal setting and time management. Click on the links or read the descriptions to locate the materials.
College Success Guaranteed by 
Two Awesome Hours by 
Find Your Balance Point by As a college student you will have to allocate time to your academic demands, work, social life, and other responsibilities. Time management will be an invaluable skill for your first year in college, and beyond.
Keeping a schedule is one of the most helpful things you can do for your health and success during college. Make sure to record all course deadlines and major dates for the semester. Additionally, include your social and other personal events. You can use a free tool like Google Calendar or check out this list of time management apps.
Setting a schedule helps you keep an eye-bird view of major deadlines and dates. For weekly and daily tasks a To-Do list will help you break down major work and keep you on top of next steps. Consider keeping a notebook for your To-Do.
The most common cause of underperformance and stress is procrastination. When procrastinating, you are putting things off that you should be making a priority. Procrastination creates a situation in the future in which you will feel stressed and overwhelmed by the deadlines piling up.
Today, we use our phones for essential tasks and others that drain our time. Consider the total time you spent on your phone and identify distractions that might be able to cut down on.
Stress is common to college life, but there is plenty you can do about it. Use your schedule to plan fun physical activities to naturally lower your stress. Consider meditation or breathing techniques as a form of relaxation. Having energy and a clear mind will better help you to manage your time and other life responsibilities.