We’ve all had the experience of telling ourselves something along the lines of “I want to eat healthier” and then a week later we find ourselves reaching into a bag of potato chips. Or maybe we resolve to learn how to play the guitar or some other instrument, and then find ourselves never once touching one or going to a lesson. Sometimes the gulf between setting a goal and achieving it can seem insurmountable. Some people seem to be able to set a goal for themselves and then you see them actively working to achieve it. For others, not so much. If you find yourself constantly falling short of the expectations you set for yourself, some strategies in setting goals might be just what you need.
Despite what you may think, and the popular saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, the truth of the matter is that no one is too old to set and achieve goals. Whether its learning a new skill, reconnecting with friends, starting an exercise program, picking up a new hobby, or shedding bad habits, if you make the decision to live your life with purpose and intentionality, you’ll find your life is happier, more vital, and you’ll feel more connected to your community.
Research has shown that having a purpose in life, that is to mean goals, a sense of direction, and a feeling that each day has meaning and value, is critical to healthy aging. Having a purpose in life is associated with many positive health outcomes, such as fewer chronic conditions, less instances of disabilities, better overall mental health, reduced mortality and increased longevity, lower health care costs, and a higher quality of life. For these reasons alone, it is worth encouraging older people to think about what really matters most to them in life, and help them to set realistic goals to make sure they’re living a life in line with their hopes, dreams, and values.
A simple acronym to help you remember the steps in setting goals you can follow through with is the SMART system.
- Specific: Don’t make your goals vague or nebulous. Instead of saying something broad like “I want to eat healthier”, try something like “I’ll fill half my dinner plate with vegetables”. A specific goal is easier to stick to and hold yourself accountable to, which will lead to celebrating a job well done.
- Measurable: Create a concrete goal to break down something vague into something tangible. And using measurement allows you to keep an eye on progress.
- Achievable: Why set yourself up to fail? By creating a lofty goal, you’re just making your task insurmountable from the first step.
- Realistic: Take stock of yourself as a person and what you know you can do. You may want to be the kind of person who wakes up at 6 every morning for a jog, but if you’ve spent your whole life sleeping in, it may be better to find a different timeslot.
- Time-bound: Give yourself a definite end point to have accomplished your goal by. WIth a deadline, it’s easier to hold yourself to your ambitions.