Setting Goals

The beginning of a new year is a wonderful time for many people to look ahead to goals they want to accomplish over the next 12 months, but 2021 is beginning in the same unusual way that 2020 ended due to the pandemic. The uncertainty of when vaccines will be available to large numbers of people and questions about how this will affect our lives on a daily basis makes it difficult to look ahead.  So, one way to adjust how we create goals this year is to focus on our personal wellness. 
Trivia question: What is the most common New Year’s Resolution? Read on to find out.   
In 1976, three University of Wisconsin staff developed a picture of wellness based on six dimensions, and the National Wellness Institute continues to use this model. Their website describes the details of the six dimensions of wellness in our lives, which are: Emotional, Occupational, Physical, Social, Intellectual, and Spiritual. These dimensions can certainly overlap with each other, but for the sake of creating goals, it can be helpful to see each dimension as a bucket. It may not be reasonable for every person to get fill each bucket to a level of best functioning especially during a pandemic, but the dimensions of wellness give us a guide for creating goals in the short term.   
Step 1: Reflect on how satisfied you are with each dimension of wellness in your life. 
Step 2: Pick three areas you would like to work on. 
Step 3: Make specific goals to do. 
Step 4: Make a timeline to accomplish these goals. 
Step 5: Just do it. 
Step 6: Based on the timeline you made in Step 4, make sure you review your progress at that time and adjust your goals as needed.
Remember: Not achieving your goal does not mean you didn’t make progress. So, give yourself credit! 
The answer to the Trivia Question is Exercise More, and we can use that as an example:   
Goal: Exercise for 15 minutes or more at least 4 times per week. Do this with a class, or by walking on warm days, or even by taking time to do stretches. The goal above can easily become overwhelming when there is no end date. So, decide on a timeline. For example, keep that pace of exercise until May 1st. For some people, it can be helpful to keep a chart of their progress to be able to review later. One other thing that can be helpful is to share your goals. Other people can offer you encouragement, just as you can do for them. Good luck!   
For more information on wellness, click here: https://nationalwellness.org/resources/six-dimensions-of-wellness/   
Share pictures of yourself working on your goals this winter on the GBS facebook page!

- Jim Gorham, Clinical Supervisor