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Why Set Goals?
Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation . It helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the most of your diabetes life.
How to Set a Goal
Most experts advise to set S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) goals that motivate you and write them down to make them feel tangible. Then plan the steps you must take to realize your goal, and cross off each one as you work through them.
S.M.A.R.T. goals, which are:
- Specific: Ask yourself what you want to accomplish, how long it will take, and if the goal is ongoing.
- Measurable: Decide how you’ll measure the goal. Maybe you’ll have a cholesterol blood test, an A1c test, or go by your weight.
- Achievable: Be sure the goal is achievable. Brainstorm ways to track your progress.
- Realistic: Unrealistic goals set you up for failure. Keep your goals sensible, and consider setting smaller goals along the way to help you reach the finish line.
- Timed: Create a realistic timeline to reach your goals. Long-term goals take time, but if they take too long, you may lose motivation.
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your diabetes wellness, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality.
Starting to Set Personal Goals
The American Diabetes Association recommends to start by setting a few smaller goals at a time and don’t try to do it all at once. It takes time to build new habits and break old ones. Here are some examples of goals that include these three elements:
Eating goal: Four days each week (How Often) I will eat an apple instead of ice cream as my evening snack (Realistic and Specific).
Physical activity goal: Five days each week (How Often) I will take a 30 minute walk during my lunch hour since I don’t really need the whole hour to eat (Realistic and Specific).
Goals like “I will eat healthier.” and “I’ll move more.” are not specific enough.
Join us for Divabetic’s Free Virtual Outreach Event
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Scavenger Hunt & Smoothie Party on Zoom with best-selling Intimacy & Diabetes co-author, Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND on Thursday, July 16, 2020, 7 – 7:35 PM, EST. REGISTER NOW
