Currently, at work, I’m hosting a workshop on developing healthy living habits, and one of the things we are looking at is identifying goals. Sometimes we tend to coast through life without any plan for what we want or where we’re going. We waste time because we haven’t chosen any direction for where we want to be. I’m going through the workshop and completing all the activities along with my other participants so I can be part of the group as well as the facilitator.
I’m surprised at how often most of us don’t set goals for what we want out of life. Maybe that’s because I’m getting older and am focused on fewer and fewer goals as I face retirement in a few short years. Yet, I still have some things I want to achieve. I’ve found that many times people don’t think about goals at all. They are focused more on what’s happening today. The problem is that you can lose tomorrow that way!
When I say “goals,” I do not mean big, fancy plans that take all day to write out. I mean simple, honest direction. A goal can be small and still matter. It can help you feel more in charge of your life. It can also help you see that your time and energy are going somewhere useful. If you have been feeling stuck, setting a goal can be a first step toward change.
Start by asking what matters to you
Setting goals isn’t all that difficult. Start by thinking about what’s important to you. What do you value? Then, look at where you want to be in a few years. Do you want to change your job or find a hobby you’re passionate about? Are you looking to increase your social connections, or find better ways to spend your leisure time? Your goals can be about anything, but if you don’t have a goal to aim toward, how will you go about getting what you want?
It can help to think in plain words. Ask yourself:
- What do I want more of in my life?
- What do I want less of?
- What is getting in my way right now?
- What would make life feel better a year from now?
Your answers do not need to be perfect. They just need to be honest. Maybe you want a better routine. Maybe you want to learn something new. Maybe you want to feel less alone. Maybe you want a better work-life balance. Maybe you want to use your free time in a way that feels good instead of letting it slip away.
Sometimes people do not set goals because they think the goals have to be huge. They do not. A goal can be as simple as walking more often, calling a friend once a week, applying for one job, cleaning one room, or spending 20 minutes on a hobby you enjoy. Small steps still move you forward.
Think about where you want to be in three to five years
Take a little time today to think about where you want to be in three to five years. What will your life look like if you do nothing? What steps can you take to get you to where you’d rather be? Write down a goal or two and a few changes you can make to get there. Then set the paper somewhere you’ll see it so it reminds you where you’re headed. Make a point of coming back to it on occasion so you can evaluate how far you’ve come toward reaching that goal.
This part matters because it turns a wish into a plan. A wish stays in your head. A plan can guide your next move. If you write it down, you can look at it again and again. That helps you stay focused when life gets busy, when you feel tired, or when other things pull your attention away.
You might find it helpful to break a bigger goal into smaller pieces. For example, if your goal is to improve your social connections, one step might be to reach out to one person this week. Another step might be to join a group or attend an event when it feels safe and possible to do so. If your goal is to spend your leisure time better, you could list a few things you enjoy and try one of them each month. If your goal is job related, you could start by updating your resume, looking at openings, or talking with someone you trust about next steps.
It can also help to think about barriers before they stop you. Ask yourself what might make it hard to reach your goal. Is it time, energy, money, transportation, or confidence? Once you name the problem, you can look for a way around it. You may not fix everything at once, but you can still make progress.
- Keep your goal clear and simple.
- Pick one or two small steps to begin.
- Write your goal where you will see it often.
- Check your progress from time to time.
- Adjust the plan if life changes.
It is also okay to change your goal if you learn something new about yourself. Sometimes we start in one direction and later see that we need a different one. That is not failure. That is growth. The point is to keep moving with purpose, not to get stuck because the first plan was not perfect.
Keep your plan in front of you
You can make changes in your life to make things better. Having a plan, written down, can help you focus on what you want and how to get there. Good luck on reaching your goals—you can do it!
If you need support as you work on your next steps, DNL can help. Disability Network Lakeshore is a Center for Independent Living, and our services are free. We help people with disabilities and their families with information, peer support, advocacy, skills development, and transition services. Sometimes a conversation is enough to help you sort out where to begin. You do not have to figure it all out alone.
For example, if you are trying to think through a job change, a new daily routine, or a better way to use your time, talking with someone who understands disability-related barriers can make the path feel less heavy. A goal can be easier to reach when you have support, practical ideas, and encouragement. Even a small plan can grow into something bigger when you keep working at it.
You may also want to make your goal more visible. Put it on your refrigerator, by your desk, or near your bed. You could also keep it in a notebook with your weekly plans. Some people like to pair a goal with a reminder, such as a calendar note or a phone alert. The reminder is not there to pressure you. It is there to help you remember what matters to you.
And when you look back later, be fair to yourself. Progress is not always fast. Some days you will do a lot. Some days you will only take one small step. Both count. What matters is that you keep asking yourself where you want to go and what you can do next. That is how you turn today into a better tomorrow.
If you would like to connect with DNL, call (616) 396-5326. We are located at 442 Century Lane, Holland, MI 49423.