Most of us who want to be healthier or lose weight tend to set outcome-oriented goals—goals focused on a specific result, like “Lose 20 pounds in three months.”

But what happens when those three months pass and you’ve lost 10 pounds instead of 20? Is that a failure? Not necessarily. Maybe you or the kids got sick. Maybe work got hectic. Maybe you were just too tired to work out after a long day. Life happened. And outcome goals often don’t account for that.

That’s where process-oriented goals come in. These focus on consistent actions and behaviors—things you can control, even when life gets messy.

Let’s revisit that weight-loss example. Instead of aiming to lose 20 pounds, you could focus on:

• Eating at least two servings of vegetables and fruit daily
• Doing 30 minutes of cardio three times a week
• Logging meals in a food tracking app

These goals shift your focus from the number on the scale to the healthy habits that move you forward. The result? You feel successful more often, and that builds momentum. Research backs this up—process-oriented goals are not only more achievable, but more sustainable over time.

Think about people who seem to be thriving in their health routines. They’re not just lucky—they’re consistent. Take a marathon runner: they don’t just roll out of bed and run 26.2 miles. They follow a plan that includes weekday runs, weekend long runs, smart nutrition, strength training, sleep, and recovery work. Each part of their routine is a process-oriented goal. Together, they build toward the big finish line.

Here is the major takeaway: they don’t just love the marathon—they love the training (the process). Why? Because they’ve learned to find success in the process and not the end goal, although it’s a nice cherry on top. 

You can do the same—whether your goal is weight loss, running your first 5K, or simply becoming the healthiest version of yourself.

Ryan Bozzell, CNP, San Juan Regional Medical Center's Metabolic and Bariatric Institute