Goal Setting

Why goal-setting? 

• When living with a long term condition like osteoarthritis it can be useful to develop the habit of building goals or targets into everyday life. This can help people to gain a bit more control over the condition.  
• Goal-setting can also be a really useful tool for helping people to achieve some of the things they feel their condition has stopped them doing.  

What is goal-setting? 

• Goal-setting needs to be related to activities you really want to do, not what you think other people want you to do. Ideally they need to be interesting and inspiring. If the task is unpleasant, you will be unlikely to achieve it. 

Making a start on goal-setting 

• It can be helpful to make a list of activities you would like to work on. These can be short-term, like meeting a friend for a coffee or sorting through some old family photos, or long-term, like improving your fitness levels or re-connecting with a favourite hobby or friendship group. 
• You may wish to try setting a goal each week. Start small and then get more ambitious as you progress.

How to achieve your goals

• Action plans can help you achieve your goals. A long-term goal may need to be broken down into a series of steps, each representing a weekly activity that create a manageable path towards success. 
• It’s important to reflect on your strengths and think of ways to build on them – this can allow you to achieve your goals more effectively. 

 

 To achieve your goals and keep on progressing you need to be SMART!

• You will not always achieve your goals and you may encounter pitfalls or challenges along the way. 
• Achieving a goal may take you longer than you think. Try not to let this stop you. 

• There may be another way to achieve your goal. Or choose a different goal from your list that you think might be more achievable. 
• Try to talk to a friend or family member regularly about the goals you have set and any successes/difficulties you are having in achieving them.