TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE: HOW YOU CAN SET GOALS AS A COUPLE

Goal setting is an important aspect of any successful relationship, as it helps couples to focus on shared aspirations and work towards a common vision. By setting goals together, couples can build a sense of unity and shared purpose, which is essential for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling partnership.

One of the best ways to build a healthy relationship is to set goals together. Goal setting as an individual is easier, as you develop your own list of accomplishments you want to attain, set benchmarks and then strategize a plan. However, goal setting as a couple requires a different approach. To effectively use goal setting, couples must determine which goals are a priority for their relationship. As a couple is made up of two individuals, it is important to know that each individual needs to have their own goals clear before coming together to form goals together.

Set goals together, apart

Goals set as a couple can be achieved in individual ways. For example, as a couple, you may desire to get healthier. For one individual in the couple, this might mean getting fit or losing weight, for the other, ‘getting healthy’ might mean lowering stress levels and improving mental wellness. Their common goal is to be healthier, but it will be met by working on their individual goals. The steps they take to achieve their goals may overlap, and will support each other’s goal, but ultimately the individual is responsible for keeping up their side of the goal.

Unify your goals

Another form of goal setting for couples is to create a set of unified goals that affect both individuals equally. A united goal may be lofty (i.e., saving enough to vacation in an exotic location) or simple (cooking dinner together once a week). Either way, achieving the goal is a victory for both individuals. Each participant may have different strategies for their contribution towards the goal, but the end result is a win for both people.

Effective goal planning for couples involves individually coming up with a list of 3-6 items that you’d like to work towards, sharing the list with your partner and narrowing down the list until you have 1 or 2 goals in common to start with. It's important to find ways to compromise and develop a plan. Steps should be written down and posted in a prominent place and met regularly to check progress and make adjustments as needed.

Strengthen your relationship?

Not only will planning goals as a couple help you to live your dreams, it will have surprising relationship benefits. Couples that regularly discuss their goals and their progress towards achieving them, generally report that they are happier and more fulfilled in their partnership. They also find that they are more energized and have a stronger bond as a result of sharing a common goal.

Goal setting is an essential aspect of any successful relationship. By setting goals together, couples can build a sense of unity and shared purpose, which is essential for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling partnership.?

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