Set Goals - Boosting Your Natural Energy: Chronic Fatigue

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Set goals

Working toward and reaching a goal is, in itself, an energizing experience. You can use the motivating effects of goal-setting to help boost your energy and enjoyment of life.

To put this concept to use, think about the things in your life that have most inspired you. Have you trained for a marathon? Earned an advanced degree? Raised money for charity? Written a published article? Now make a list of the things that you most enjoy doing, such as traveling, gardening, playing a musical instrument, socializing, reading a good book, or playing bridge. Look at the two lists. Are there ways to combine the things you love with goals you can accomplish? The idea is to find something that will be stimulating and energizing, not something that'll feel like just one more chore. Planning a trip can be stimulating, for example, and saving the money for it can give you a goal. Or use your love of bridge playing and socializing to stage a card-playing fund-raiser.

Try to focus on your priorities, so that you channel your energy into the activities that truly matter to you. Setting goals motivates you. Motivation is an important aspect of energy. And reaching goals is enormously satisfying — the greater your sense of well-being, the higher your energy level is likely to be.

Last updated:	January 23, 2007