Page 16 - Healthy LEAP into Fitness- Coach's Manual

GOAL SETTING &

DECISION MAKING

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
- A goal is something that we want to get to or what we want to accomplish.
- It’s important to set goals in all areas of wellness (physical, nutritional, social and emotional) as
well as other areas in life (work, school, and home.)
- To reach our goals, we have to make active decisions every day to lead to a healthier lifestyle.

NOTE: This is an OPTIONAL LESSON.

GOAL SETTING
A goal describes where you want to get to or what you want to get done. The definition of a goal is: some-
thing that you are trying to do or achieve. Setting a goal is like creating a plan to do better, or to get some-
thing done. Some goals are easy to reach, while others may be more challenging. When setting goals, it’s
important to set realistic goals and to consider your strengths and limitations. This may help you achieve
your goals within a reasonable time.

When setting a goal, it’s helpful to:
• Establish a plan to reach the goal
• Consider barriers (What could get in the way?)
• Suggest solutions to the barriers
• Identify a reward
• Evaluate progress

We can set both long-term and short-term goals. A long-term goal is a goal that you plan to reach over
an extended period of time. An example of a long-term goal is becoming a teacher. A short-term goal is
a goal that you can achieve in a short time. Short-term goals can contribute to the long-term goal. Short-
term goals that contribute towards becoming a teacher may include getting a job tutoring or applying to a
teaching program at a university. Barriers to consider for the long-term goal of becoming a teacher might
include not getting into the university or not having enough money to pay for the classes at the university.

Goal setting is a powerful tool that you can use to shape your future. Goals help us focus and can give us a
sense of purpose. Goals can also boost our self-confidence, and this strengthens our mental and emotional
wellness.

DECISION MAKING
We make decisions every day. Some decisions are small choices such as deciding what to wear or what to
eat for breakfast. Other decisions are larger choices and may be life changing or affect other people in
our lives. These are choices like whether to get in a car with someone who has been drinking alcohol or
how to respond to hurtful comments. It is important for a person to think through the decision and to do
the right thing for them.

Several decision-making models are available that are helpful in supporting a person when making
a decision. Those models are typically used when we are making the larger choices rather than small
choices such as figuring out what time to set your alarm clock. Whatever decision-making model a person
uses, there are some really important concepts to think through. It’s important for us to think through
the decision and to do the right thing for ourselves. Sometimes we forget that the right choice for one
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