Ask the Expert – Doug Blecher: How to Create a Clear Path to Your Goals

It’s a new year which causes so many of us to pause for a moment or two to reflect on what we want in our lives. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach teens and adults with autism as well as family members in achieving goals they have set out for themselves. I wanted to give a few observations of what has been helpful for those that were able to move in a positive direction to reach their goals.

Reduce your anxiety. I often see people afraid to take action on their goals because they are simply just overwhelmed by the process. Sometimes there are sensory processing issues that get in the way. Then there are executive functioning challenges that stop others from taking action. Other times, not knowing the expectations is a big hindrance for moving towards one’s goals. A good starting point in reducing these concerns is identifying someone you know and trust and then having a conversation with that person to develop a plan that may reduce your anxiety. It is also okay to allow yourself to take a break on a project – sometimes anxiety comes from feeling the pressure to execute a plan perfectly and at a pace you may not be comfortable with at the present time.
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Helpdesk – Tracking Your Goals in 2019

Setting goals for the New Year is often much easier than sticking to them! The Milestones Helpdesk staff wants to provide you with a couple of tools you may use to track and reach the goals you have set. Whether you are a self-advocate working on your executive functioning skills, a family juggling a busy schedule, or a professional managing multiple responsibilities at the same time, we have some practical suggestions that may suit your needs!

For Families
Microsoft Word has templates for just about everything you could want, including goal-tracking. See how Milestones Program Director Beth Thompson customized this template for tracking daily chores on a checklist for monitoring a child’s morning routine. If your family goal is to get your child to complete activities more independently, use these customizable forms to create a document specific to your goals.

For Self-Advocates
Electronic calendars and reminder systems – Many self-advocates have great success with using electronic calendars and reminders to keep them on track. For example, one Milestones self-advocate recently reported he doesn’t take appointment reminder cards anymore but instead asks his providers to send him calendar invites so he is automatically reminded of his upcoming appointments. Consider setting up your reminder notifications to start one week out from your event or appointment, and then schedule for them to remind you more frequently as you approach the date – for example: one day until the event, one hour, then a 15-minute reminder.
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