Now that I’m ready — let’s go!
Ok, you’re ready. It’s time to set some goals. Goals will help you stay on your path as you make changes to be healthier. Setting too many goals or goals that are too big can overwhelm you.
In this section, you’ve already been thinking about what’s going on in your life right now. Think about what your priorities are when you decide on what you want to set as your first few goals. Depending on what’s happening in your life you may be able to work on 1 goal or a few small goals to start. Don’t try to make all your changes at once. It’s OK to start with 1 thing. Do it for a couple of weeks, and then add another small change.
The next step is to think about what you’d like to change now. Is there something that’s most important or that would help you most to change? Some areas to change might be related to physical activity, nutrition, stress, or sleep. Or you might have something else you want to change that’s important to you.
Now that you’ve decided on your priority area, make a list of some of the things you could work on. Choose 1 and set a SMART goal around it. SMART goals are:
- Specific – clear and detailed
- Measurable – can be measured
- Attainable – you can do it
- Rewarding – it’s worth it to you to do it
- Timely –how long will this take
Go to Setting Goals for Lifestyle Change to find a worksheet that will help you get you started.
I’ve set my goal – now what?
Great job! Setting SMART goals takes some thinking and time. With your SMART goal in mind, think about what you’ll need to help you follow through with making this change.
- What might get in your way?
- What do you need to do to get ready to work on your goal?
You may want to print your goal worksheet. Place it somewhere where it’s easy to see. Read it often to remind yourself of your plan. You can add to it as you go along.
If you’re having trouble with this, talk to your healthcare provider for ideas of what might help. There are many other programs that you may find helpful. Go to the
resources section to find a list of some of these programs.
Come back to this Setting goals section to set another goal or more goals as you work through the learning module
Something to think about ...
Go to your reflection journal when you’ve decided on your plan, ask yourself:
How confident am I that this is something I will do?
Rate your confidence on a scale of 1 to 10. How likely are you to start making this change? (1 - not confident, 10 - very confident)
If you rated your confidence less than 7 out of 10, think about the following:
- What might get in your way?
- How can you work around this?
- Is your goal the right one for you at this time?
- Can you break your goal down into smaller, easier to manage steps?
- Do you need more help, or something in place to help you get there?
There’s no right or wrong way to answer these questions. Make your plan realistic so that it helps you get to your goal.
