How Student Goal Setting Can Get Your Teen Through Lockdown

With the world going into another week of lockdown, we thought we would offer some simple tips on how to deal with stress and improve your student wellbeing, focusing particularly on goal setting for students. Some worrying recent studies on the mental health effects of quarantine in China and Italy show that up to 37% of people studied in Italy are reporting post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, and adjustment disorder symptoms (Rossi et al., April 2020), while China is reporting a 35% trauma-related distress symptom as a result of lockdown.

On top of this, both studies have shown that these issues are more likely to affect women and young people. As our main focus at Life on Time is schools' student wellbeing, this is especially concerning. For some, these figures will not come as any surprise, as school and student personal development goals have been postponed with no certainty on when they will restart.

Adding to this, we have the disease, COVID-19, lurking around every corner, creating uncertainty, stress, and anxiety in even the most brave-hearted student. So what can schools and teachers advise students to do on to limit the effect of lockdown on their Student wellbeing? Take a listen and learn how student goal setting can help them through.

Using Goal Setting to Enhance Student Wellbeing

So what can schools and teachers advise students to do in order to limit the effect of lockdown on their student well being? Encouraging values based goal setting can help build resilience and focus. Introducing structured approaches, such as goal setting apps for students, allows them to track progress, stay motivated, and develop wellbeing goals for students that foster a sense of accomplishment.

Even simple milestones can reduce feelings of helplessness and support mental health. By breaking down larger objectives into smaller, achievable tasks, students can maintain motivation, celebrate small wins, and keep a sense of normalcy in their routine. Whether it is academic planning, physical fitness, or personal hobbies, these strategies help learners move forward with clear, attainable goals.

For more information on student goal setting please read our article on How to limit the effect of lockdown on student wellbeing