Tips for Setting Well-Being Goals You’ll Actually Achieve

If you’ve aspired to change a behavior or build a healthy habit that never quite stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us set well-being goals that are too broad or too lofty — or don’t set any concrete goals. Without clear outcomes to aim for and a plan to get there, it’s easy to get discouraged and derailed. Making well-being goals and an action plan has been proven to improve results. Quantifying, prioritizing and sharing can take your goals to the next level and set you up for even greater success.

Here are 10 ways to set well-being goals that you’ll stick to:

1. Start with a list of identity-based goals.
   Build sustainable habits by considering who you want to be in the future, rather than what you want to do, and define identity-based goals. Use this vision board to select 1 – 3 goals under each pillar of well-being.
2. Quantify your goals and the specific activities that will help you achieve them.
   Be detailed in your goal (e.g., “I will become a runner by spending at least 20 minutes a day three times a week practicing by running at the park after work at 5:30 p.m.”). People who specify their physical fitness goals are two to three times more likely to exercise. Challenge yourself by setting a difficult, but attainable, goal.
3. Prioritize your well-being goals.
   Organize your goals around what’s most important to you, and practice one habit at a time. Define what’s motivating you to improve your well-being this year. Research shows that you’re more likely to achieve goals when you have an emotional connection to them.
4. Share 1 – 3 well-being goals with your colleagues.
   Sharing with others builds accountability — and makes the process more enjoyable. Social support is a critical component to sticking to your routine and achieving goals.
5. Select an accountability partner(s) and invite them to practice habit(s) with you.
   Your accountability partner(s) can include your family, friends, colleagues or even a virtual group/club. Research shows that people who receive frequent feedback are more likely to achieve their goals. Integrate your healthy behaviors into your family’s routine — for example, incorporate more vegetables into meals, go on after-dinner walks or establish phone-free time in the evenings.
6. Stack your well-being activities on top of current habits.
   It’s easier to sustain new behaviors when you build them into your current routine. For example, rather than simply committing to meditating in the morning, plan to meditate between waking up and brushing your teeth.
7. Measure progress along the way and acknowledge achievements.
   Commit to progress without overwhelming yourself with numbers. If you ran for two minutes a day last week, try running for three minutes a day this week. If you want to write a book and you commit to writing ten pages per day, try increasing that number by one page per day. Keep track of your progress to sustain your motivation.
8. Share your progress and celebrate your success with your colleagues on the Community Feed.
   Tell others about the progress you’re making and celebrate the milestones you hit, both big and small. Let yourself feel proud of your success, and let your story motivate others.
9. Be kind to yourself. You’re allowed to make mistakes.
   Even the most successful individuals have setbacks. Making mistakes is natural but getting past them can be difficult. Document cues that led to your unhealthy behaviors and consider how you can replace them with healthy ones. One of the biggest barriers to getting back on track is your mindset. Be kind to yourself and practice positive thinking to keep you motivated and focused on the path forward.
10. Take advantage of resources to manage your mental and emotional well-being.
    When unexpected challenges come up and derail your progress, you can easily get discouraged. Practice stress management techniques or complete short training modules through myStrength for help managing stress, anxiety and depression.