Long-Term Goals

Long-term goals are those that you plan to achieve over several months or years. Set a long-term goal, then develop a specific short-term goal that works toward meeting the long-term objective. In the golfing example just mentioned, one can fine-tune the goal of decreasing fatigue during a round of golf: Be able to walk 18 holes at the pace needed to complete a round in 4 1/2 hours. Making the goal measurable enables you to identify the steps you must take to reach it and to determine whether you have indeed met your goal. The golfer s flexibility goal is achievable in the short term, but a good long-term goal might be to perform a regular shoulder-stretching routine on a daily basis.

After you identify your goal, check to make sure it is realistic. Find out whether others in your peer group can complete the round in the target time. If you were able to meet the goal at one time, you will have an idea of how feasible it is and how long you may take to achieve it. It will take longer to reach this goal if you have been driving a cart for the last year than if you are already able to walk 9 holes at a comfortable pace.