Being in pain can be quite a debilitating and lonely place, particularly if it’s been ongoing for a period of time. You can feel like nothing is changing you’re not getting any better and the loop of frustration only further aggravates you. And some conditions do take a long time, and they can often be at the most inconvenient of times and getting in the way of life and work.
One way we can track your improvement and keeping you positive is through the use of goals. Give yourself something to work towards, something you know is achievable and something that means something to you.
What’s the best way to go about it?
Research is constantly developing in this field, exploring the association between physical factors, environmental factors and psychological factors to help obtain the best results. A common practice is by making your goals SMART. This is an acronym involving 5 key factors into making a goal that is realistic.
S – Specific
Create a goal that is specific to YOU, something that’s not too broad and easily focused on. You might have an overall goal to play football again, but have a more short term goal to be able run 1km in order to chase the overall goal.
M – Measurable
Something that you track and monitor your progress. Going back to a running goal simply having a goal ‘Run like I used to be able to’ isn’t something you can track yourself on. But by adding in distances or times you want to hit gives you something to target. For example, run 2km in 12 minutes, but first I need to check off running 1km in 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Chip away at your measurements and work towards your goal.
A – Attainable
Do you have the tools to achieve your goals? If not, what are the barriers and how can I overcome them to make it possible. Do you need to buy gym memberships? Do you need to purchase some equipment to help you train? Do you need a coach or family to help support you through? Have your goals planned out and well thought through.
R – Realistic
Don’t set your bar too high only to not make it create more disappointment and negative feelings. For example, don’t start with a goal to run your first marathon in the next two months, start with smaller targets to allow for a safe and steady progression, start with 5,10 and then 21 km, before setting your ultimate goal of running a marathon.
T – Timely
Give yourself a target, this way it can help avoid putting off doing the work and training. Is it by then end of the month or end of the year? Circle a date on that calendar and work towards it.
With any aches and pains you may have our wonderful osteopaths can help you set some achievable goals to return to what you love to do, whether it be getting back onto the footy field or working without discomfort we can help with treatment, exercise and stretches to help guide you through your injury rehabilitation!