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Reach Your Goals
By Jim McDonald
As one sage put it: If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there. And yet many of us do not have specific goals to focus on and motivate us to "get up and go." In fact, a lack of goals may be robbing us of an active, interesting life as a senior.
Goals make a difference no matter what your age. You may have heard of the kindergarten teacher who walked around her classroom observing each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
That little girl knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish, a drawing of God, one minute from now. That was her goal statement; a clear, concise statement of an end result.
Most people don't spend much time thinking about their goals. They accept what comes their way and move with the flow wherever it takes them. Seldom do they stop to think that they can in fact control their time and their life if they want to. That's because most people are not sure what they want.
If you happen to be at a fork in your road, anxious to change but unsure of what to do, start taking control of your life by setting goals and establishing priorities. Goal setting will cause you to focus on what you really want, and move you in the direction of a more fulfilling lifestyle. For the 50-plus group there are at least six goal categories worthy of pursuing: family, health & wellness, financial, educational, social & pleasure, and spiritual.
Your goal must be a clear, concise statement of an end result or desired outcome. Follow these five guidelines to get that result.
Put it in writing: When you write a goal you create a contract with yourself and set in motion a process that helps you carry through. Furthermore by putting your goals in writing you clarify your thoughts and arrive at a precise statement of what you want to accomplish.
Get personal: Your goals must belong to you and state what you want to achieve for your own reasons.
Make it measurable: A written goal statement must be specific and include such things as dates, times and amounts so that your achievement or lack of it can be measured. If for instance, you write a goal statement about becoming more physically active, you must include a start date.
Be realistic: When writing a physical activity goal, take into account your present age and your health. If you are not sure, consult with your health-care professional. Don't set your goals so high there's no hope of achieving them, for then you're sure to fail and that's no fun.
Focus on results: When preparing your goal statement, focus on the goal, not the action steps of how to get there. By its very nature, a goal is a statement of something you intend to accomplish in the future and that's your focus.
Here's a Health and Wellness goal statement. Note that it's personal, measurable, realistic, and identifies an end result.
By June 15th, I will be walking briskly for at least 30 minutes, 4 days a week.
Action Steps: Your goals will not become a reality just because you write them down, or because you would like to see them accomplished. You must take action to make them happen. To identify the steps necessary to reach your goal, ask yourself these questions. What information, knowledge or skills do I need to achieve this goal? What assistance or resources do I need? What roadblocks will I have to overcome?
Possible Steps required to accomplish the above goal
Develop a plan that will allow you to start off slowly, increase your distance, and your pace over a period of time.
Decide upon one or more walking routes.
Find a walking partner to help you stick with it.
Find out what the community centres have to offer in your area.
Learn more about the health benefits of regular activity.
Determine what activity alternatives are available during the winter months.
Write your own 'Health and Wellness' goal statement and action steps.
Your Goal Action Steps required to reach your goal
Goals are not cast in stone, they reflect your best judgment today and they are subject to revision as your life changes. Good luck.
Learn more about the joys of keeping mentally active and physically fit by reading Jim and Olga McDonald's inspiring book Get Up and Go, Strategies for Active Living After 50.
It's available wherever better books are sold or click on the link below to buy it from Amazon.ca.
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Learn more about the joys of keeping mentally active and physically fit by reading Jim and Olga McDonald's inspiring book Get Up and Go, Strategies for Active Living After 50.