4 Reasons to Set Goals Together

Do you set personal goals at the start of a new year? You might have your own unique motivations, but there’s a reason it’s a common time for people start a journey towards some kind of self-improvement. January is both a literal and metaphorical fresh start, making it a perfect time to set off with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

Setting goals offers many universal benefits, and when you do it with your spouse – even more positive effects are unlocked. Curious what they are? Keep reading.

Goal-setting fosters communication and understanding.

When you take the time and effort to sit down and set goals together, you pretty much have to communicate, often on a deeper level than the typical logistical conversation about schedules and what to grab at the grocery store. When you’re really intentional about setting goals together, even personal goals that you’re sharing with each other, it often leads to in depth conversations about aspirations, priorities, insecurities, and motivations. Maybe you gain insight into why staying fit is so important to your spouse, or you’re able to explain what drives you as a parent. Ultimately you’ll gain a deeper understanding of each other, infusing more empathy into your relationship.

You’ll learn new ways to support each other.

Part of working toward a goal is hitting some roadblocks along the way. As you face setbacks and even failure together, you’ll see each other struggle through those low points, which is the perfect opportunity to build each other back up. You’ll learn to provide encouragement and support in the specific ways that each of you needs it most, while also learning more about yourselves in the process. Maybe you do better with more intense verbal motivation, while you spouse prefers a softer approach. Or perhaps you sometimes need a break and reset after a setback, and your spouse likes to power through. Whatever the case, learning these things about yourselves and each other will help you in throughout your marriage, whether it’s navigating challenging seasons of life or facing an unexpected crisis.

It creates a team mentality.

When you set goals together, you create a shared vision – an agreed-upon bigger picture – that can help you and your spouse get aligned across many areas of your relationship. Let’s say you’ve set some positive goals for your health or finances this year. If you find yourselves at odds over things like how you’re spending free time or how often you’re ordering takeout, recalibrating around your shared purpose can help you keep a harmonious perspective, instead of nitpicking the little things. Ultimately, this gives you a sense of underlying unity even when you disagree. Learning to apply this mentality throughout your marriage is a game-changer.

You can avoid complacency.

Complacency is sneaky because it feels like everything is clicking along smoothly. However, that false sense of comfort often hides underlying problems, such as emotional disconnection, unaddressed conflicts, or one-sided dissatisfaction. Setting goals requires you to take a look at where you are and reflect on how you can be better. It’s not always easy facing your personal or relationship flaws, but when you do, you’re taking the first step toward ongoing growth. You might have a good marriage – but there’s always room to make it great.

In the end, setting goals together as a couple isn’t just about checking boxes or achieving milestones. By opening up lines of communication, discovering deeper ways to support one another, fostering a true team mentality, and keeping complacency at bay, you create a shared vision that propels both of you in building a stronger, more connected marriage.