Setting Goals Helps Us Achieve our Dreams

Setting a goal and then completing the goal is a super nice feeling!  What are some goals you have completed before? What are some goals you would like to complete in the future? What are some goals you are working on in the Healthy Living Program?

Setting and achieving goals is one of the best ways to help us feel the way we want to feel and be able to do what we want to do in life.  Sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to work on our goals.  When we feel this way we can remind ourselves of why the goal is important to us, and visualize how we will feel and what will be better in our life when we achieve the goal.  Sometimes it helps to start small and force ourselves to take that first step- no matter how difficult. Sometimes it helps to \ have an accountability partner- someone to talk to about your goal, someone who will support you, remind you, and encourage you.  Research shows that if you write your goal down, you are about 20 percent more likely to complete your goal.  Research shows that if you create SMART goals you are also more likely to achieve goals.

How to Set SMART Goals

Specific

The more specific you make your goal the more likely you will achieve it.  For example, rather than saying you will exercise every day,  you can say what type of exercise you will do every day, and where you will exercise.  For example “I will ride my bike to the park and back”. Remember to let other people know where you are going and what you are doing.

Measurable

What will be different when you achieve your goal? How can you measure your goal? Maybe you check it off on a chart every time you work on it.  Maybe you set a goal for the future like-I will eventually be able to do 20 push-ups or run 1 mile without stopping.

Attainable

Remember baby steps. Start small. Set a goal you believe in and have confidence you can achieve.  Once you achieve your goal reward yourself, then set another goal.

Relevant

Make your goals connect with something you like, something you believe in.  Maybe you don’t want to bike, or do push-ups, but you would like to skateboard every day, spend time outside or play some type of sport. Think of goals to set that will help you in other areas of your life.  For example, exercising helps us learn better and remember things better.  If you exercise before you do your homework your brain will work better for you to remember things and problem solve.

Time-Bound

The 5210 program recommends one hour of physical activity every day. Think of a time of day that works best for you to be active. It doesn’t have to be all at once,  maybe 30 minutes of physical activity in the morning and then 30 minutes in the evening.   Also, when thinking of your goals, decide when you would like to reach it.  For example, I would like to be able to run one mile without stopping by the end of October.

Using SMART goals will help you feel how you want to feel, and achieve what you want to achieve. You can do anything you set your mind to especially with SMART goals. Never give up, you got this! Now go get a goal!

By Aaron Blackham, LSW, CSW-I