What would you like to make room for in your week? Before committing to a new goal, take a little time to decide what it means to you. A goal can be modest, practical and open to revision.
The original article offered three questions about commitment. Here is a gentler way to use them, without turning a difficult week into a test of willpower.
1. What do I want to do?
Describe an action you can recognise. Instead of a broad wish to change everything, you might choose to cook one familiar dinner or set aside time for a friend.
Write down what the action involves, when it could happen and what you would need. Choose an example that fits your circumstances today.
2. Does it fit my wider life?
Look at work, caring responsibilities, money and time. What would need to move to make space? Is there a smaller version you could try first?
You can also decide that this is not the right season for a particular goal. Revising it is a choice you are allowed to make.
3. What would I like to change?
Name the inconvenience or frustration without using it to criticise yourself. Perhaps dinner feels rushed, or a full calendar leaves little room for things you enjoy. What is one practical adjustment you could test?
Our three-column planning exercise gives you somewhere to put the next step, likely obstacles and a backup plan.
Leave room for support
If stress is ongoing or leaves you overwhelmed, speak with your GP or a mental health professional. A goal-setting exercise is not a mental health assessment. Healthdirect — Stress.
Melbourne Wellness does not currently offer coaching. Melbourne Wellness — Services. This article is a reflection prompt you can use in your own time.
Sources
Read 15 October 2026. Clinical sources support the adjacent general information; clinic links verify the advertised appointment menu.
- Healthdirect — Stress — Australian public-health guidance; accessed 2026-10-15.
- Melbourne Wellness — Services — current clinic facts; accessed 2026-10-15.
