If Wishes Were Horses & How Do You Eat An Elephant?: A Menagerie of Metaphors On The Importance of Setting Social SMART Goals
It is the New Year, which is officially “Resolution Season.” Case in point: January is by far the most popular month to join a fitness club, and your local gym will likely see up to a 50% uptick in utilization this month. But do not worry – if you are reading this while you wait for an elliptical to open up, by mid February almost 80% of those who joined in January will be gone (source).
Why? Because if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
Wishes are not resolutions, and even resolutions are not SMART Goals. Wishes are things we want to happen. “I wish I had a teleporter.” Sure, life would be easier with a teleporter – then I wouldn’t even need a horse! Sadly, sans genie, the laws of physics are seriously impeding the likelihood of my wish being fulfilled.
Resolutions are a good place to start. Let’s take a common one: I Resolve To Lose 10 Pounds This Year. Resolve to achieve a goal (lose 10 pounds). Set a benchmark (target weight = current weight minus 10 pounds). Work toward it (Ugh). Resolutions can also be intimidating, overwhelming, isolating, or simply too complex to achieve.
Consider trading in your New Year’s Resolutions for a SMART Goal.
SMART Goals are a way of re-framing your resolution into something that is: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic (or Relevant), and Time-Bound. By breaking a resolution into its specific parts and pieces one can begin to evaluate each component of the SMART Goal, track progress, adjust course as necessary, and eventually achieve the goal.
Want to super-charge your SMART Goal? Couple your SMART Goal with some type of social connection. At minimum, share your goal, and have a loved one or co-workers help hold you accountable. Even better: connect your actions to other people in a social manner. We achieve more when we work with, and are connected to, others. Don’t endeavor to lose 10 pounds. Endeavor to join a spin class with a friend, attend 3 sessions every week, and meet at least one new person a week in the group for 2 months. That is how to lose 10 pounds!
The Pleistocene’s greatest culinary achievement, BBQ’d mastodon, was not achieved by a lone hunter and a rock. It was a group effort. Find your tribe – they will help you achieve your SMART Goal. And when you do bring down the mastodon, remember how to eat an elephant: one bite at a time (and with a lot of friends). You can always get back together to work it off at your next spin class.
Happy New Year, Good luck, and Great Social SMART Goal Setting!
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Jake Weld, M. Ed. is the Director of Admissions and Business Development for Mansfield Hall, a college support program with locations in Madison, WI, Eugene, OR and Burlington, VT.
Feeling overwhelmed in college- but not sure why? you’re not alone.
The key isn’t just “pushing through”, it’s learning to recognize what’s happening before you hit that wall, and having systems to reset.
That might look like:
• stepping outside for a walk
• box breathing between classes
• putting on a guided meditation
• reaching out to someone you trust
Small supports = big difference over time.
At Mansfield Hall, we help students build the awareness and tools to regulate, recharge, and navigate college in a way that actually works for them.
What’s one thing that helps you reset when you’re overwhelmed?
#CollegeLife #StudentMentalHealth #ExecutiveFunction #StressManagement
Excellent week across the board!
People Ops team member Jo touched down in Madison, receiving a warm welcome with coffee and a trip to see the Capitol building. VP of Program Ops Hayley grounded herself and took in the beauty of the Statehouse. Pancakes were served, and Burlington student Nikhil took the stage to perform with his choir.
A great week to zoom out and back in- and reflect on all the things we have to be grateful for!
#collegesupport #neurodiversity #worklifebalance
College can be energizing… and draining.
If you’ve ever felt socially exhausted, you’re not alone.
Understanding your limits (and what helps you recharge) can make all the difference.
#CollegeStudents #Neurodiversity #StudentWellbeing
Hangin` in there until spring weather kicks in!
This week at Mansfield Hall our Eugene, OR students did some rock climbing, Burlington, VT connections students took an outing to the bowling alley/arcade, while others took a trip to a local sugar house to learn about all things maple syrup. Students in Madison, WI continued their endeavors to learn about all things maintenance...and they make it look fun!
Happy Friday Friends- enjoy the weekend.
Mansfield Hall had the joy of hosting some professionals at our Madison, WI location recently, which included a student panel.
One of the questions asked was: What do you like about Mansfield Hall?
The answer: how inclusive it is.
No one gets to choose the brain they have, but we do get to choose the world we create. We choose to accept, celebrate, and work toward a world that’s more inclusive of every brain and the incredible things they can do.
Happy World Autism Awareness Day. We see you, and we celebrate you for all that you are and all that you can be!
❤️MH
#autismawareness #neurodiversity #collegesupport
Sensory overload happens when your brain receives more sensory input than it can comfortably process.
Our nervous systems are constantly taking in information, but when there’s too much coming in (or it’s coming too fast) our systems can become overwhelmed.
We get it, and it can be managed with small, intentional supports like reducing input, creating predictable routines, and building in quiet recovery time.
