Setting goals that fit your life

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We all have goals, things we want for our lives, but it's not always clear how to get there. For a lot of people, setting and working toward goals can feel overwhelming, or like it's out of reach or out of your hands. If that's how it feels for you, you're not alone, and those feelings don't mean something is wrong with you.

Your Peer Recovery Specialist can help. Together, you can explore what matters most to you, identify goals that fit your life, and break them into steps that feel manageable. You get to decide what you want to work on, what progress looks like, and when you're ready to take the next step.

Boulder's SMART goals

Adapted from the work of Ginger Ross, Choices Recovery Trainings©

At Boulder, we like to think about goals as SMART: small, manageable, affirmative, rewarding, and timed. Working through these questions can help set you up for success:

Small: Can this goal be broken into achievable steps?
Manageable: What time or resources do you need to make this happen?
Affirmative: Does this goal reflect something that matters to you?
Rewarding: What would make working toward this goal meaningful or rewarding?
Timed: Is there a time frame that feels realistic yet flexible for you?

Setting your own goals

To show you what this can look like, here's an example built around a common goal: getting a driver's license back.

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

Here's what the steps could look like to move this goal forward.

Find out what is needed to get your license reinstated.
Contact the appropriate agency to understand any requirements or fees.
Make an appointment and gather required documentation.
Set a reminder for the appointment and arrange a way to get there.
Choose one small step you feel ready to take.

Try this same approach with a goal of your own. Start with what you want, then think through the first few steps that would move you forward.

More to think about

Remember, goals aren't set in stone. Your priorities, circumstances, and needs may change along the way, and that's okay. You can always revisit your goals, adjust your timeline, or choose a different direction. Progress doesn't have to look the same for everyone. As you set your goal, these questions might help you think it through further.

Small: Can this goal be broken into achievable steps?

What exactly do you want to accomplish?
Who else might need to be part of your plan?
What's your next step to move it forward?

Manageable: What time or resources do you need to make this happen?

What parts of this goal are within your control?
What support or resources could make this easier?
Are there skills you'd like to build along the way?

Affirmative: Does this goal reflect something that matters to you?

Why does this goal matter to you right now?
Is it something you need soon, or is it longer-term?
How does this goal connect to what you want for your life?

Rewarding: What would make working toward this goal meaningful or rewarding?

What's driving you toward this goal?
What will help you stay motivated along the way?
How might you feel when you achieve this goal?

Timed: Is there a time frame that feels realistic yet flexible for you?

When do you want to reach this goal?
Does that timeframe feel realistic?
What might get in the way, and how could you adjust if it does?