Health Goal: Healthful behavior a person works to achieve and maintain.
Short-Term Health Goal: Healthful behavior a person plans to achieve in the near future.
Long Term Health Goal: A healthful behavior a person plans to achieve after a period of time.
How to Set Health Goals
- Write your goal. Write your goal in a short sentence starting with "I will". A long term goal can usually be broken into several short term goals. This makes it easier to accomplish.
- Make an action plan. Describe in detail how you will achieve your goal. Make sure it is realistic.
- Identify obstacles to your plan. Brainstorm possible obstacles and then prioritize. Deal with the most important ones. This is important because if you know possible obsticles, you can take steps to aviod them.
- Set up a timeline. Set a date for each point in your action plan. Make sure it is realistic.
- Record your progress.
- Build a support system. Associate with people who are working toward the same goal and who will help you achieve your goal. Stay away from those who will sabotage your goal.
- Revise if necessary. Revise your action plan and/or timeline if you cannot keep to them.
- Reward yourself when you reach your goal. Make sure your reward does not conflict with your goal.
