Personal Health Goals

As a person with MS, I’ve written that my personal health goals are to progress as slowly as possible and do nothing that will mess with my pathological optimism. People I talk with about personal health goals say it’s not easy to come up with personal goals.  What do I mean? OK, people who are well want to stay well.  Those who are acutely ill (cold, broken leg, stomach ache, etc.) want to get over it. Those who have chronic conditions want to manage as best as possible. Here’s a stab at a list of personal health goals.

To stay well

1. Own your health
2. Drink more water
3. Eat well
4. Get enough rest
5. Be active every day
6. Manage stress
7. Manage weight
8. Have the best relationships possible
9. Live within means
10. Complain less
11. Do meaningful work
12. Do some of what you love
13. Participate in community
14. Take out the garbage
15. Empathize
16. Celebrate success
17. Enjoy life

To get over it

Same as for the well PLUS

1. Do what you committed to
2. Take meds
3. Manage pain
4. Adapt to change in function
5. Get more rest than you think

To manage as best as possible

Same as for the well and acutely ill PLUS

1. Get help, build a team
2. Enlist a care partner
3. Become an expert in your conditions
4. Pay attention to your caregivers’ health
5. Join a support group
6. Prioritize what really matters
7. Give yourself a break

I’m surprised that there aren’t more for the chronically ill. What am I missing?