Be Proactive
1
Setting goals
Overview
It is important for you to be proactive in managing diabetes and its symptoms, to ensure that it does not impede with your everyday life.
In this section, we’ll provide tips on how to:
- identify the different areas of your life and how important it is to you
- set realistic goals
- keep up with the goals
2
Identifying areas of importance
Consider these areas of your life
Relationships
Health & physical well-being
Work & career
Personal & spiritual growth
Recreation and leisure
2 questions that can help you plan your goals
- What are some lifestyle changes you are thinking of making or have made?
- How might/did these changes contribute to important areas of your life?
3
Setting your goals
Step 1: Where do you want to be
When determining your goal, you’ll have to consider what’s the intended outcome you are hoping to achieve.
Example of healthy eating goal
Step 1
Where do you want to be?
Where I am now:
“I love having fried chicken everyday!”
“I love having fried chicken everyday!”
Where I am now:
“Manage my weight better
Eat more veggies and less fried food”
“Manage my weight better
Eat more veggies and less fried food”
This goal is important to me because I want to be healthier and look better
Steps 2 & 3: Set your goals & work around potential barriers
For example:
Step 2
Set your goal
I will...
Step 3
Identify and work around potential barriers
What might get in the way
Colleagues suggest having fast food for lunch
I have a particular craving for curry puffs when I’m stressed
There is a stall that sells delicious fried food, on my way home
What i can do
Suggest to try out eateries with healthier options
Unwind in other enjoyable ways, like walking or listening to music
Take an alternative path home
Person(s) who can help
My colleague James likes vegetables
Walk and chat with my neighbour in the evening
NIL
Example of how to set an exercise goal using the 3 steps:
Step 1
Write down the original goal
I will...
Step 2
Solve the problem
What got in the way?
I couldn’t get off work on time
Poor weather
Low energy level
How can i work around it?
Do lunchtime exercises or pick a day without 5pm meetings
Do in door exercises
I can sleep earlier the night before or pick a weekend day to exercise earlier
Step 3
Revise your goal
I will...
Action
Do lunchtime exercise and brisk walk
Day/Time
- Lunchtime exercise on Mondays
- Brisk walk on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Location
Office gym, park connector
Time period
Another 4 weeks
Start date
From 18 July
4
Keeping up with goals
Ensure that you are able to keep up with your goal
Complete the “Keeping up with my goal” handout if there are barriers to accomplishing the goal.
Use the 2 rulers below to check if the goal is doable. If the scores are less than 7, adjust the goal.
Section:
CONTRIBUTED BY
Ministry of Health
