Are you feeling bogged down by the January slump? This year, we’re saying goodbye to past resolutions and turning the page to a new chapter in your wellness journey. Learning to live with a chronic illness or disease will require some adjusting, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up everything from your old life. In this blog, we will help give you the tools for goal setting to help you move forward.
Are you ready for a change?
Goal Setting with a Chronic Illness
What do you want to accomplish this year? For individuals with chronic illnesses, goal setting takes on a unique significance as it becomes a powerful tool for navigating the complexities of health while striving for a sense of purpose and hope. The most effective goals are those tied to your values.
Think about it: What do you value the most in life? Who do you want to be? What activities do you want to do more of this year? These questions can be used as a compass for helping you align your goals with your values.
One of the key roles of goal setting when it comes to managing your chronic illness is its role in helping to change habits and behaviours. A goal can help create structure and help you stay motivated and organized as you make adjustments to help with pain management.
Goals related to managing chronic illnesses can range from improving your sleep to incorporating more exercise into your day to learning relaxation techniques to journaling. Remember: Just because there are added challenges to managing your chronic illness doesn’t mean that you have to let it rule you.
The Reality of Changing Habits
Something always adds to the challenge of creating a goal and sticking to it. Making a drastic change is tough, but making promises to ourselves to cut out all junk food or go to the gym more has been known to happen. Challenges to goal setting and changing your habits can include:
- Not having someone to hold you accountable
- Self-victimizing because of feeling stuck in your circumstances
- The goal is too difficult to achieve
- You’ve got the motivation but not a realistic goal
Why is Goal Setting Important?
At Supportegy Wellness Coaching, we see the power of goal setting every day when we meet with our clients. Why? Because goals help you choose a direction, from work to coaching sessions. Even those without a chronic illness are resistant to change! Goal setting can have many hidden benefits, including:
- Increased self-confidence:
- Achieving goals boosts your confidence and belief in your ability to accomplish things and overcome challenges. This increased confidence can positively affect how well you stick to your treatment plans.
- Positive Mental Impact:
- Setting and achieving goals can have positive effects on your mental well-being, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It helps cultivate a positive mindset and resilience in dealing with chronic conditions.
- Adaptability and Resilience:
- Goal setting promotes adaptability and resilience. People with chronic illnesses learn to adjust their goals and plans as needed, fostering a proactive and flexible approach to managing their health.
- More Active Self-Care:
- Setting health-related goals encourages active engagement in self-care activities. This involvement contributes to better self-management and a more proactive approach to health.
- Reduced Feelings of Fear
- Working towards and reaching goals can make you feel less scared about dealing with chronic illnesses. As you make strides in managing your health, a sense of control and achievement takes over, making you feel more positive and empowered.
3 Tips for Chronic Illness Management
Did you know that chronic illness management goals are closely tied to the approach your doctor or healthcare provider takes? You are in the driver’s seat to take a proactive role in making changes to help prevent complications and improve your quality of life.
When it comes to goal setting, we recommend focusing on creating a daily rhythm that is not tied to a specific time in case things change and everyday life gets in the way, as it will force you to listen more to your body. As you’ll find, managing your chronic illness is a journey, but there are three easy things you can focus on as you go.
- Celebrate Achievements:
- Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, whether they are big or small. Recognizing achievements can boost motivation and foster a positive mindset.
- Embrace Adaptability:
- Be open to adjusting your goals and management plan as needed. Chronic conditions may evolve, and your approach should be flexible enough to accommodate changes.
- Create a Support System:
- Build a strong support system of friends, family, and others who understand your condition. Having emotional support can make a big difference in successfully managing chronic illnesses.
Practice goal-setting with 5 easy steps
- Write down your goals: As you write your goals, try to use words like “will” rather than “might.” Make sure your goals are realistic in what you want to accomplish and the length of time it will take. What’s your theme for the year? Is there a word for 2024 that you want to work on embodying in your life? When you’re done, review your goals.
- Make at least one health-related goal: This could be anything from a lifestyle change you want to make, changing your diet, or learning more about your illness to help you grow and move forward.
- Start slow: Think of it as a marathon, not a race. We recommend taking little steps towards working on your goal through daily or weekly activities, especially if it is related to fitness. Break it down into a smaller goal: What can you slowly cut out of your diet so it’s not a total shock to the system? Or, what is one thing you can learn about your illness?
- Review and reassess: Do you need to cut it down into smaller goals? Adjust as you need to in the case of setbacks. As a tip, don’t forget to create a backup plan in the case of a flare-up so you can still work towards your goal.
- Focus on what you can control: Curing yourself is not necessarily an option, but what can you do? How can you eat healthier, practice meditation or go for walks in nature to reduce stress? These steps can be body-specific and relate to your mental and emotional well-being.
At Supportegy Wellness Coaching, we see value in the mind-body connection and provide you with support that comes from personal experience. Are you ready to start acting on your goals?
We offer large group, small group, 1:1 and online wellness coaching to help connect you to the right resources and support network to thrive. Take the first step and learn more about wellness coaching today!