Strategic Goals
Setting Long-Term Objectives to Empower Cancer Recovery

Introduction

Strategic Goals are long-term objectives that guide cancer survivors toward goals such as: sustained health, meaningful relationships, and fulfilling work. They foster resilience and well-being, helping navigate recovery challenges across all stages.

Why It Works

Strategic goal setting promotes a sense of control and hope, which is crucial for cancer survivors facing uncertainty. It encourages holistic recovery by aligning actions with personal values, leading to improved mental health, better adherence to medical follow-ups, and enhanced quality of life. Studies indicate that purposeful long-term planning reduces depression, boosts motivation, and supports physical rehabilitation, ultimately aiding in building a fulfilling post-cancer life.

How To Do It

Instructions:

1. Reflect on Your Journey: Take time to assess your cancer experience, current state, and future aspirations. Journal about what matters most—health, family, career, or personal growth.

2. Identify Key Areas: Categorize goals into domains like physical recovery (e.g., regaining strength), emotional well-being (e.g., building resilience), social connections (e.g., strengthening relationships), and financial stability (e.g., returning to work).

3. Define Broad Objectives: Craft visionary statements, such as "Achieve optimal physical health to enjoy active family life" or "Pursue meaningful work that accommodates my energy levels."

4. Break into Milestones: Divide each goal into achievable phases, like quarterly check-ins or yearly reviews, to track progress without overwhelm.

5. Define the Costs: Acknowledge the costs like time, money, and tradeoffs to achieve your strategic goals. Determine the unknowns. Are you willing to pay the costs and cope with navigating the unknowns?

6. Align with Resources: Incorporate support from healthcare teams, support groups, or therapists to refine goals.

7. Review and Adapt: Schedule regular evaluations (e.g., every 3 months) to adjust for changes in health or circumstances.

8. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge achievements to maintain motivation.

Helpful Tips:

Be flexible: Recovery is nonlinear; adapt goals as needed.
Seek input: Discuss with loved ones or professionals for perspective.
Use visualization: Imagine success to reinforce commitment.
Integrate self-care: Pair goals with rest and nutrition.
Start broad: Focus on 3-5 goals to avoid overload.
Track holistically: Use journals or apps for reflections.
Combine with other tools: Link to SMART or daily goals for implementation.
Build support networks: Join survivor communities for inspiration.
Stay patient: Long-term change takes time.

Positive Psychology

Popular Apps

Noom: Weight Loss & Health

Noom

App St o re

Google Play

Stay motivated and organized

Habitica

App St o re

Google Play

Strides: Habit Tracker + Goals

Stride

App St o re

Google Play (N/A)

Scientific Research

Richards, D. M., et al. (2021). Cancer patient perspectives on survivorship goals from the Smart Patients online community. Cancer Causes & Control, 32(6), 675–683. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8191477/
Pinquart, M., & Fröhlich, C. (2015). Life Goals in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Psycho-Oncology, 24(11), 1433–1443. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4653098/
Levit, L. A., et al. (2018). Personal goal-setting among women living with breast cancer: protocol for a scoping review. Systematic Reviews, 7(1), 132. https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-018-0794-6

Strategic Goals
Setting Long-Term Objectives to Empower Cancer Recovery

Introduction

Why It Works

How To Do It

Recommended Videos

Survivorship Webinar Series 6 - Putting It All Together

Mayo Clinic

What to Do & Not Do When Setting Goals

Huberman Lab - Stanford Medicine

How To Set Systems Instead Of Goals

Beyond Potential

Influential Books

From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition

The Cancer Survivor Handbook

The Gift Of Cancer