The need to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic has left many of us with extra time to reevaluate what we are doing with our lives. It’s an excellent opportunity to ask yourself if you have become the person you hoped to be, and, if not, what you can do to get there. If you take stock of your aspirations and realize you have fallen short, it’s never too late to hit the reset button with these healthy goal-setting strategies.

1. Begin With Intention

If you’ve ever practiced yoga, you know the importance of setting an intention before you begin. Intention, in this case, means the conscious effort to pay attention to how each pose makes you feel and what benefits you hope to realize by doing yoga. You can bring this same mindset to other aspects of your life, including setting goals. For example, if you have a goal centered on physical fitness, ask yourself why you want to become more fit. Do you want to have more energy and stamina, improve your mood or boost your self-confidence? Once you’ve set your intention, you can work backward to determine what you’ll need to do to turn your visions into reality.

2. Be SMART About Goal-Setting Strategies

Too often, we fall short of our objectives because we didn’t do enough to define them from the get-go. We make the mistakes of being too vague, not giving ourselves a deadline or trying to bite off more than we can chew. To avoid these pitfalls, remember the acronym SMART:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Time-bound

Instead of a poorly defined goal such as, “I’m going to work on my financial wellness by saving money,” a SMART goal might look more like, “I’m going to set aside at least $100 every month, then invest it in my retirement fund by the end of the year.”

3. Don’t Overdo It

It can be easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm of goal-setting and identify far too many things you’d like to do. To avoid taking on too much at once, only pick out three or four realistically achievable objectives you can accomplish within your given timeframe.

4. Keep Yourself Accountable

Once you have established your SMART goals, write them down, including all the steps you’ll need to take to get there. The primary reason for writing down your goals is to keep them top of mind. Put them somewhere visible, such as on your nightstand or taped to your bathroom mirror. When you reassess your progress every day, set aside a few extra moments to close your eyes and picture yourself as though you have already achieved your objectives. Visualizing your goals as complete kick-starts the reticular activating system in your brain, which acts like a gatekeeper, allowing only specific information to reach your conscious awareness. By keeping your goals at the forefront of your brain, you will find it easier to remember what you’re trying to accomplish.

Your Home for Lasting Sobriety

Healthy goal-setting strategies are an essential part of life in recovery, but so is finding a sober support network to help you stay on the right track with your objectives. At Segue Recovery Support, you’ll find a structured environment where you can avoid relapse triggers and immerse yourself in our recovery culture. Contact us to learn more.