We all have goals—things that we want in life—but sometimes we are not quite sure how to get there. For a lot of people, setting and achieving goals can feel overwhelming, out of reach, or out of your control. These are common feelings that can get in the way of progress.

Remember that you are not alone! Your Peer Recovery Specialist can help you create clear goals that are right for you and then break them down into manageable steps. These steps can help you move forward towards the life you want. Your Peer Recovery Specialist can also talk you through any bumps in the road along the way.

Boulder's SMART Goals

adapted from the works of Ginger Ross - Choices Recovery Trainings©

At Boulder, we think about "SMART" goals—goals that are Small, Manageable, Affirmative, Rewarding, and Timed. Thinking through the following questions can help you set yourself up for success:

• Small: Is this goal small enough to be achievable?
• Manageable: Do you have the bandwidth and resources to achieve this goal?
• Affirmative: Will this goal have a direct positive impact on your life right now?
• Rewarding: What will your reward be when you achieve this goal?
• Timed: Have you set a clear time frame for when you want to accomplish this goal?

Setting Your Own Goals

The Goal Setting Worksheet below can help you break down the steps required to achieve your goal. For example, if your goal was to get your driver's license, your Goal Setting Worksheet might look like the following:

GOAL: I want to get my driver's license back.

First things that I must do to move this goal forward:

1. Find the phone number and hours for the local court system.
2. Call the local court system to find out how much your fines are and your options for paying them.
3. Find the phone number and hours for the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
4. Call the local DMV to make an appointment and find out what their fee is.
5. Make sure you have your social security card and a copy of your birth certificate to take to the DMV.
6. Arrange transportation to your appointment.
7. Set yourself a reminder of your DMV appointment.
8. Attend your DMV appointment and get your new license!

Goal Setting Worksheet

Now it's time to set a goal for yourself.

GOAL: I want to...

First things that I must do to move this goal forward:

1.  
2.  
3.  

Worksheet

Goal Setting & Reuse Prevention Worksheet (print).pdf

More to Consider

As you set goals, you might also want to think through these additional questions:

Small: Is this goal small enough to be achievable?

• What specifically do you want to accomplish?
• Who needs to be included in your plan?
• What do you need from others to accomplish this goal?
• Is there something that needs to happen before you set this goal?
• How will you move this goal forward?

Manageable: Do you have the bandwidth and resources to achieve this goal?

• Is this goal in your control?
• Do you have the time to work towards this goal?
• Do you have the skills required to achieve the goal? If not, how can you gain those skills?
• Do you have the resources you need to achieve this goal?

Affirmative: Will this goal have a direct positive impact on your life right now?

• Why am I setting this goal now?
• Is it aligned with immediate needs, or is this a want/long-term goal?
• Is the amount of effort required worth achieving this goal?

Rewarding: What will your reward be when you achieve this goal?

• What is the motivation behind this goal?
• How will you stay motivated in the process of achieving this goal?

Timed: Have you set a clear time frame for when you want to accomplish this goal?

• When do you want to achieve this goal by?
• Is this time frame reasonable and realistic?
• How will you track your progress?
• What obstacles could interfere with this time frame? How will you adjust to the obstacles?

Questions, concerns, or feedback?

You can send a message to your Care Team in the app with non-urgent questions or feedback, or you can always call Boulder's 24/7 Support at 888-316-0451.

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