Setting Goals
Change is all about working towards a goal; to reach your goal, you need a plan. Your plan will help you reach your goal, step by step.
Goal setting is an important part of diabetes management, diabetes education, and lifestyle change. Working with your health care provider to establish your goals will help you be the owner of your goals. This will help you commit to the behaviors needed to successfully reach your objectives.
Goals are not permanent. As time passes, lifestyle, health, social situations, and attitudes can be expected to change. Goal setting should be viewed as a continuing process.
Making changes in your life is a matter of trying and learning. First, you try something, and then you see what works and what does not. Not every idea will work and you may run into some problems along the way. That is okay. Sometimes when things go wrong, you will learn a better way to reach your goal.
Answer the following questions to come up with your own plan.
What's hard for me? What do I want to change? What is my goal?
Example: I want to lose weight.
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Why do I want to make this change?
Example: I am unhappy with the way I look and feel.
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Why haven't I made this change before?
Example: I did not take the time to go to the gym.
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How can I work around these problems?
Example: I can think of a way to exercise that is low-cost or free and does not take a lot of time.
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Here is my plan (what I will do when I do it?):
Example: I will go for a walk 3 mornings a week.
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Here is what I need to get ready:
Example: I need walking shoes that fit well.
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What might get in the way of making this change and what can I do about it?
Example: I can walk inside when the weather is bad.
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Here is how I will reward myself:
Example: I will buy that new jacket I've been wanting.
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