You are the manager of yourself. In order to be successful, there are areas you must address. First, you must decide what you want to accomplish, being very specific and realistic in order to prevent failure. For example, you may be socially limited because of your problem and wish to be more socially active. Set time lines and write down your goals. If you identify more than one goal, choose and focus on the one most important to you.

Next, identify alternative ways to accomplish your goal. Rejecting alternatives may prevent you from reaching your goal. List your options for reaching each goal, then choose one or two in which you would like to work. If you are having difficulty identifying options, consult your family, friends, health professionals, or community organizations. Identify and investigate options. Do not assume they do not exist or are unworkable. Assumptions are major enemies of self-managers.

Probably the most important self-management tool is turning your options into a contract with specific actions that are realistic and achievable. The contract should be for yourself, a tool to help you do what you wish. There are a few steps you can follow when making a contract. Be realistic. First decide what you will do this week with behavior specific plans. Next, make a specific plan which includes: exactly what you are going to do, how much you will do, when you will do it, and how often you will do it.

Rate your contract on a scale from 0-10, with 0 being totally unsure of achieving and 10 being totally confident. If your answer is 7 or higher this is probably a realistic, achievable contract. If you rated your contract lower than 7, evaluate what factors decreased your confidence. Can you identify and change the problems to make your contract more successful?

Once you have identified your goals and are happy with your contract, write it down and post it where you will see it every day. Document your progress or any problems you may encounter.

• Fulfill your contract.
• Keep track of your daily activities.
• Check off things as they are completed.
• Make daily notes.

These will provide guidance on how realistic your plan was and may be useful in establishing a pattern to use for problem solving. Check your progress weekly. You should see some progress, however small, each week. Check the following: have you completed your contract? are you near to accomplishing your goal? are you having any problems? and if so, this is the time to problem solve.

If you encounter problems — DON’T give up. Modify your short-term plans to ease your steps towards fulfilling your goal. You may need to give yourself more time, choose new steps or check with your consultants for advice.

The most important step is to identify the problem. Once identified, list your problem solving ideas, then choose one to work with. Assess the results after giving your idea a fair trial before deciding it won’t work. If you still encounter the problem, substitute another idea and try again. If all fails, you may need to accept that your problem may not be currently solvable. This doesn’t mean it may not be solvable later. Don’t give up.

Reward yourself as you accomplish your goals. The rewards do not have to be expensive or fancy — there are many healthy pleasure that can add enjoyment to your life.

Now you are ready to begin using the tools that will make you a self-manager. Good Luck!!