Homepage \ Functioning \ Setting goals

Setting goals

This can be a helpful way of making small changes that, over time, mean you achieve something you’ve been wanting to do for while.

Think about what you’d like to do, and set a goal you’re confident you can do in the next few weeks. Make a note of what you would like to do and by when. It works best if the time to achieve it in is short, like a few days or weeks. If it’s longer, try breaking it down into a number of steps, each one with its own timescale.

It may help if the goal fits with your values, the things that really matter to you. So, for example, if the thing you really want is to see your family more, your goal might be to build up to walking to your grandson’s school so you can meet him there after school.

When you have completed your goal, you might want to recognise this by giving yourself a small reward or treat.

  • If your goal is to walk a bit more, make a specific, detailed note like this:

    Goal: Walk to local shop and back rather than driving

    Notes: I’m going to walk to and from the shop three times in the next week

    By when: In 7 days, 30 Sept 2025

  • If your goal is to learn how to paint, this may take a while. So you can break it down into a number of smaller steps, each with what you will do and by when.

    Goal: Learn to paint By when: 1 Jan 2026

    ————————————————————————————————

    Step 1: Find out about painting classes by calling the local library and searching the internet

    Notes: I am going to spend half an hour on three days finding out this information

    By when: 30 Sept 2025

    ———————————————————————————————

    You find out that it’s an online course that takes 10 hours to do. So you can make your next step.

    Step 2: Do the online course

    Notes: I’ll do it for one hour on each of Monday and Wednesday

    By when: In 5 weeks, 4 Nov 2025

Other strategies

Click to find out about useful strategies for breaking the Functioning cycle.

This website describes some practical ways to help you manage day-to-day long-term breathlessness. It has useful information for people with lung conditions, their carers, and the health professionals supporting them.

If your breathing is getting rapidly worse or you have new symptoms, it is important to seek prompt medical review or call 000. This website is not designed for people who have a new undiagnosed breathing problem or a sudden deterioration. It is not a substitute for medical assessment.