We’re on to part two of our 31 Days of Goal-Setting! Part Two is all about Considering Goal Categories. (Note: I think I may have run across the explicit idea of goal categories in You, Only Better, and the categories I’m using are based on, though not identical to, the categories from that book.)

Considering goals in terms of different areas of one’s life is a simple but powerful part of goal-setting. For one thing, the process includes evaluating one’s life and which areas might be improved. For another, it generally leads to more balanced goal-setting overall.

For example, how many people have you seen who list eight or ten exercise or physical-based New Year’s Resolutions and absolutely nothing else? Some of these people are very focused on fitness achievement, and that’s fine. Others aren’t, but they are working under the assumption that that’s just how NYR’s work. (Trust me, I used to be one of them.

That said, health is a legitimate aspect of one’s life. So hey, let’s start with the obvious. Today’s question is: How are you doing when it comes to your health?

“Health goals” means a lot of different things to different people. For some people, it might mean running a marathon. For others, it could be eating food that doesn’t cause their immune system to attack itself. For yet others, it could mean doing physical therapy to regain strength in their limbs.

Health is also not entirely within any person’s control. That’s true of all aspect of life, actually, but it bears repeating because we have some WEIRD attitudes when it comes to healthiness, effort, and worth in our society. So please, do not put impossible pressure on yourself in a “I must do things perfectly, because if so I am guaranteed PERFECT HEALTH” kind of way.

For myself? I am very lucky that I’m reasonably healthy. I have a few mild chronic concerns, like allergies (darn you, Ohio Valley) but mostly I am okay.

This also means that health-wise, I am primarily in maintenance mode (except for physical fitness and sleep, where I do have some areas where I’d like to improve). My health is important to me! But I’m mostly doing okay, so not a lot needs to change in my day-to-day routine.