Set and Reaching Your Goals
Quality Life Forum Self-Care Series​
Updated January 2023

The time flies and times go by too fast. Be sure to set your goals for each year, toward your target. Research shows that 46% of people do keep resolutions for at least six months, and 8% keep them for the entire year. That 8% might seem small, but people who choose to make a New Year's resolution are 10 times as likely to keep them over those who do not. 

The key is that you must keep up the motivation and turns it into behavior changes to reach your goals. Strive to be in the minority of people who keep their New Year’s resolutions/personal goals. Even if you don’t keep every one, the act of making them and striving toward them will have positive effects.

There are good reasons for set your goals:

1. Be goal oriented and keep life on track; not to get lost
2. With good intension, hopes and engagement
3. Set your responsibility and accountability

In your golden years, you may have accomplished many achievements. Now focus on three areas - health, wealth, and happiness to enhance quality of life.

Health Essentials

Health is the most valuable asset of life. You own it and the best advocate for health maintenance is you.  In your golden ages, focus on - 

• Personal fitness routine
• Healthy life style (nutrition, exercise, and quality sleep)
• Reduce health risks (i.e., stress, smoking, alcohol, unhealthy food choices and behaviors)

Wealth Basics

Saving for retirement is a lifelong undertaking. Saving for retirement was hard and managing your money while retired is even harder. It involves keeping your retirement long term goals in mind and set short term goals yearly.  A recent study from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College shows that many parents may not be keeping up with their retirement savings goals after their children leave home. Re-evaluation and financial planning are important in retirement. Strategies for consideration:

• Personal finance evaluation (i.e., pay off debts, budget adjustment for inflation, financial support for adult children and their families)
• Insurance protection and coverage (i.e, home, automobile, health, estate planning)
• Cost effectiveness plan for savings targets (i.e., downsizing, simplify life)

Happiness

​Happiness: Happiness is a choice and the choice is yours. What makes us happy?

• In good physical and mental health state and maintain healthy life style.
• Freedom – free of worries, stress, illness and misfortunes
• Nurture healthy relationships and connect with your resources for support
• Help others within your ability, giving money/goods or volunteering for your time. Beside goods and money, find a way to give something to somebody - give thanks, helps, and compliments.
• Express gratitude – appreciate life moments and let others know that you are thankful for their kindness.
• Learning new knowledge and skills; the process and results are both enjoyable.
• Travel to gain new experiences. Get an America the Beautiful Annual Pass and join travel groups to explore domestically and globally. Enjoy life to the fullest with optimal quality.

How to set SMART Goals and achieve them:​

• Set goals specific and measurable; know what you want to be relevant, realistic and practical
• Keep it real and taking actions; schedule your calendar for to do list and the time to do it. Do not commit too much or too fast
• Start small short term goals, don’t give up after the first week and don’t expect immediate results.
• Reinforce self-discipline and be persistent for success.
• Keep tracking and set time-bound check point. Be willing and adaptable for changes and adjust your goal as needed.
• Check the reality and identify reasons for success and fail short; evaluate at least yearly or better monthly. Do what works but not to repeat past mistakes.  
• Reward accomplishment: congratulate yourself for making consistent progress; all efforts counts! See your achievements will boost motivation and self-confidence. 

It’s simple but you need to stick with it to make it work. Congratulations for your goals achieved. Even you don’t achieve 100%; you are still on track and moving toward target direction. That’s the purpose of goal setting and what really matters.

​Feel free to contact qualitylifeforum@outlook.com for your health coaching needs

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