Setting Healthy Goals FVS

The difference between short-term and long-term goals is that short term goals are things you can get done easily in a finite amount of time or by a set time in the future, and they often lead up to long term goals. An example would be that a player aims to improve their road running time over three kilometres by five seconds each week. A long term goal takes effort to attain, as it is made up of many different short term goals, and it may have a more indefinite or longer time. An example would be that a player increases the distance to ten kilometers by the end of the season.

It is important to create measurable goals so that you can measure your progress to determine your success. If your goal is too general to be measured, you have no way of knowing that you have reached your goal. *Responses will vary. A sample response follows:* It is important to create measurable goals in order to determine the point at which the goal has been achieved. Also, a measurable goal can help improve motivation by allowing an individual to effectively track progress toward meeting the goal. This step-by-step tracking can also help an individual create a more efficient plan to achieve a goal, thereby increasing the likelihood that it will be achieved.

When writing an action plan, a person should clarify their goal, write a list of actions, analyze and prioritize, organize their steps, monitor and review their plan, and adjust the plan as necessary. *Responses will vary. A sample response follows:* The first step in developing an action plan is to clarify the goal by visualizing an outcome, determining the goal's measurability, and by looking at possible difficulties that may arise in pursuing the goal. The second step is to create a list of possible actions by brainstorming as many ideas as possible. After this brainstormed list is developed, it should be analyzed and prioritized so that only the essential actions remain. These essential actions should be organized into a plan of sequenced steps. Finally, the plan should be monitored and reviewed to determine its effectiveness toward reaching a goal. If it can be improved, the plan should be adjusted to optimize results.

A. determining a set of tasks for each goal

It is important to set realistic goals with reasonable timeframes so that you can reach your goals and move on to new goals to better yourself. If your goals aren't realistic, you will never reach them, which could cause you to get discouraged and make no improvement at all. *Responses will vary. A sample response follows:* Setting realistic goals is important because it keeps an individual's motivation up. An individual who sets unrealistic goals is more likely to become discouraged through the process and is therefore more likely to give up on the goal. By setting realistic goals, an individual can maintain motivation and stick to established timelines, culminating in the successful completion of a goal.

To create an effective list of tasks to accomplish a goal, you should start by brainstorming options and ideas, but not review or judge them until you have finished. Then, go through your ideas and determine which tasks are necessary to achieve the goal, which ones are attainable, and which ones you should do first. These tasks will often be your short term goals that lead to a long term goal. *Responses will vary. A sample response follows:* Tasks are activities that must be done on a daily or recurring basis in order to accomplish a goal. An individual who wishes to accomplish a goal must determine what tasks must be completed in order to reach the goal. An effective list of tasks will include the necessary steps an individual should take to reach the desired goal. For example, a student wishing to obtain a driver's license might set tasks for practicing driving, taking practice written tests for the driving exam, and reviewing the driving laws.

The purpose of an action plan is to map out the milestones and goals and to identify how to achieve milestones and goals. *Responses will vary. A sample response follows:* An action plan can identify ways that milestones and short-term goals can be reached while working toward a long-term goal.

False

B. all of the goals reflect the same specific topic

B. devising a way to achieve the goals

A. It creates accountability by establishing deadlines.

D. all of the above

B. buying newer, smaller clothes

B. It increases the likelihood that key points will be included.

True

D. clarify the goal

C. run a 5k in three weeks

False

True

C. eat nutritious meals

C. The individual will become discouraged and stop working toward the goal.

False

False

C. establishing healthier nutritional habits

B. map out milestones and goals