5 Surprising Tips to Set the Best Goals for Your Health

GE Privacy

Introduction: protecting your privacy, enhancing your online experience

When it comes to data privacy, protecting your personal information is most important. We feel it’s also important to give you, your colleagues, and your family members a voice in the development of this web site and your overall experience with it. To do this, we need to collect certain types of information to help us evaluate how the HealthAhead web site is being used, so we can continually improve your experience and the content we offer to you. By tracking overall usage patterns, providing an easy channel for your feedback, and allowing you to tell us what content is most useful to you, we can refine our offerings and provide more of the content you personally find valuable.

Overall, we are committed to giving you the option to participate – or not participate – in a manner that’s right for you. Read more for how we do this.

Information we collect and how we use it

Identifiable Information Collecting

All methods of identifying yourself to GE will be optional and opt-in, may be updated by you at any time, and will not be required for all areas of the web site.

We will not collect any identifiable user information from the areas of the HealthAhead web site which do not require SSO (Single Sign On), unique User ID (Identification), and/or Password.

There are areas of the web site that require you to identify yourself to us (authenticate). This allows you to access certain parts of the web site that may otherwise be restricted for privacy and security purposes.

There are also areas that may provide the option to create a personalized profile. The information you provide is optional and what you tell us will determine the level of personalization you will experience.

Access to identifiable information is restricted to internal, administrative personnel and solely for purposes of providing web site support, awarding prizes and other recognition, and customizing the web site content and overall functionality for the user. However, we will also allow you to change your mind and opt-out of sharing personal information with us at any time.

Non-Identifiable Information Collecting

When you visit the HealthAhead web site, we track, collect and report on certain aggregate and non- identifiable information. In other words, the information we collect does not relate to a single identifiable visitor. It tells us things such as how many users visited our web site and what pages they viewed.

This non-identifiable data will be collected and stored in a secure database in the U.S., and may be viewed by GE. We will analyze this information to refine our web site to better reflect user preferences, such as the type of content users are searching for most, and to improve the usability of the web site and the user’s web site experience. The information may also be used for purposes of promoting the web site. The data will not be used for medical analysis or other medical purposes.

Cookies

Like many web sites, the HealthAhead web site uses browser cookies – bits of text placed on your computer’s hard drive when you visit. We use them to tell us things like whether you’ve visited us before, and to help us identify features in which you may have the greatest interest. We also use cookies to track country and language selection.

In the future, we may use cookies to track additional details, such as city and state.

We keep this information unless you don’t wish GE to capture this and choose to delete your cookie history. If you wish to stop accepting new browser cookies, get notification when you receive a new cookie, or disable existing cookies, the “help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how. Keep in mind, without browser cookies, you may not be able to take full advantage of all our web site features or have your preferences saved for future visits.

We also use Flash cookies on the web site to enhance your online experience. These are similar to browser cookies, but they store data more complex than simple text. Flash cookies, by themselves, cannot do anything to or with the data on your computer. In addition, Flash cookies cannot access or remember your email address or other personal information unless you provide the information on this web site.

Web Beacons

Certain pages on our web site contain “web beacons” (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). These web beacons obtain information such as the time the page was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies. Web beacon data does not include IP address. The web beacon data is stored at Google Analytics, a third party (see ‘Tracking and Reporting’ for more information on this technology).

Tracking and Reporting

Specifically we will track, collect and report on the following data using software from Google Analytics. For more information about Google Analytics, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to www.google-analytics.com

Our primary metrics include: Poll response rate, repeat visits, number of times content is shared, and visits by country.

The sub-metrics include:

Most Popular Content Types, Most Popular Content Topics, User Pathing, Exit Links, Bounce Rate, Traffic by Source (region), Time on Web site, Visit Time of Day, Unique Views/Page Views, Thumps Up/Down, Most Shared Content, Number of Times Content is Rated, Most Rated Content by Type, Language Selection.

We will also be tracking how much communicators, web site leaders and other HealthAhead operations teams are leveraging the web site to support and align their business, regional and web site specific efforts. Some of these metrics may be tracked using existing support central tools.

These metrics may include:

Number of Content Submissions by Region, Number of non-corporate Driven Promotions by RCs, Number of Promotional Downloads by Region, Support Central Survey

Feedback Form

Your feedback is important to the web site’s ongoing development, so we’d love to hear your opinions and ideas. To contact us, please use this Feedback form. We will not be able to respond directly, but all feedback will be reviewed, evaluated, and factored into future content decisions. Please note: this form is monitored by IT support staff only. Please do not submit any personal or medical information. And thank you in advance!

Poll and Quiz Responses

On the web site, we will conduct polls and quizzes to better understand user activities, attitudes, interests and knowledge across multiple health topics. These polls may also help us serve you better by asking questions that relate to the usefulness of our web site. We will not capture any personally identifiable information through the collection of poll response data. As part of these polls and quizzes, we will capture responses sorted by country. In the future, we may capture responses sorted by additional anonymous demographics such as language, affiliated GE business, work web site location, gender, etc.

Sharing Content with Family and Friends

We want you to share the web site’s content with important people in your life, so most articles, videos and slideshows can be emailed. To do so, we will ask you to provide your name and the recipient’s email address. We simply use this information to send the content as you request. At this time, we do not capture or store your, or the recipient’s, email address. Please see below to learn how we track and report on email sharing activity.

Please also review GE’s Social Media Guidelines

How we protect information

GE maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of any information you provide on this web site. We use secure socket layer (SSL) technology to help keep the information you provide on this web site secure. See ‘Information We Share’ and ‘Information We Transfer’ for additional details.

Information we share

We do not sell or otherwise disclose personal information about our visitors, except as described here. We may share information provided by visitors with service providers we have retained to perform services on our behalf. These service providers are contractually restricted from using or disclosing the information, except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements. In addition, we may disclose information about you if we are required to do so by law or legal process; to law enforcement authorities or other government officials; or when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.

Information we transfer

We may transfer the information we collect on this web site to other countries where we do business, but only for the purposes described above. When we transfer your information to other countries, we will protect that information as described here unless otherwise required by applicable laws.

Links to other web sites

We provide links to other web sites for your convenience and information. These web sites may have their own privacy statements in place, which we recommend you review if you visit any linked web sites. We are not responsible for the content of linked web sites or any use of the web sites.

Children’s privacy

This web site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen on the web site. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of thirteen, we will delete the information from our records.

Some links on this web site may take web site visitors to web sites that are directed to children. These web sites have their own privacy notices that address children’s privacy. We encourage you to read these privacy notices if you visit any linked web sites directed to children.

Updates to our privacy & data policy

This Privacy & Data Policy may be updated periodically and without prior notice to you to reflect changes in our online information practices. We will post a notice on this web site to notify you of any significant changes to our Privacy & Data Policy, and indicate at the top of this policy when it was most recently updated.

How to contact us

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy & Data Policy, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by visiting our Feedback Form.

5 Surprising Tips to Set the Best Goals for Your Health

Reach for the stars: It sounds good in theory, but what does it really mean? You might be surprised to learn that the most successful people set goals that are well within reach. Realistic goal setting allows you to build a path to success, one small achievement at a time. Experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend setting goals that are S.M.A.R.T. — Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-sensitive. By following these five simple tips, you can set strong goals for your health and wellbeing— and actually achieve them.

Be specific

Plenty of people want to “get healthy.” But what would that actually involve? Hashing out the details of your goal is an important first step to achieving it. Otherwise, it’s hard to know what you’re aiming for.

Set aside some time to plot out your goal. Think about the what, when, where, why, and how of what you hope to accomplish. And write it all down. Documenting your goal may boost your chances of success, suggest researchers at Dominican University.

Let’s take a look at some of the specific details you should consider.

Can you measure it?

Tracking your progress is an important part of pursuing goals. To do that, you have to set a goal that can be measured.

For example, if you want to lose weight, starting to track how much you eat — including the number of calories in the food — could make a big difference. Once you know how many calories you are currently eating, you can set a specific goal to cut back. To lose one pound per week, most people usually need to cut back by about 500 calories per day.

If that sounds too complicated, then take a closer look at your daily diet. Are there any high-calorie foods you eat every single day, like a bottle of soda pop or a big cookie? Cutting just that one high-calorie item from your day may help you lose weight over time.

To stay on track, review your progress weekly, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Think about what worked or didn’t work. And plan your steps for the week ahead.

Can you attain it?

Unrealistic goals are a recipe for disappointment. Set goals that you can actually achieve, by taking your current abilities, resources, and limitations into account.

For example, planning to swim one hour per day may be overambitious — especially if you don’t live close to a pool, juggle a busy schedule, or haven’t been swimming in years. It may be smarter to start small and give yourself some flexibility. You could commit to swimming two hours per week and build up from there.

Whenever possible, brainstorm fun action steps to reach your goal. If you don’t like swimming, there are probably better ways for you to get active. Consider planning regular walks with a friend or getting back into a sport you once loved. You will be more likely to stick to your journey if you enjoy the scenery along the way.

Is it relevant to your life?

Does your goal help you live a healthier or more fulfilling life? Does it bring you closer to your dreams or aspirations? Choose a goal that is relevant to you.

For example, if you’ve been feeling stressed or overwhelmed, learning to meditate may be relevant and helpful for you. You could pledge to meditate 15 minutes per day, five days per week, to help relieve stress and increase self-awareness.

When you feel unmotivated to pursue your goal, you can remind yourself—this is bringing me closer to the person I want to be.

What is your timeline for achieving it?

Choose a start-date for pursuing your goal. Circle it on your calendar. And stick with it, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Take your daily commitments and significant life events into account. For example, if you want to lose weight by cutting calories, your birthday may not be the best day to start—especially if cake is on the menu.

Starting after that piece of cake, you might aim to lose one pound per week, and ultimately five percent of your body weight. As we described earlier, most people can achieve this goal by trimming 500 calories from their daily meals over a set number of months. It’s a goal that could help lower your risk of developing weight-related diseases, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. For most people, two to three months would be enough time to accomplish this goal. If you aren’t sure, consider speaking with your doctor about how to set a healthy weight loss goal and a timeline to complete it.

To help you stay on track and avoid burn-out, it may be helpful to break a larger long-term goal into smaller short-term goals. Consider scheduling realistic targets along the way. And celebrate each success.

Challenge yourself: schedule time to set your next SMART goal

Pick a date in the near future to set a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. Schedule a few hours to work out the details. Write it all down. And revisit your goal often. If you find that your original goal is unrealistic, don’t be afraid to adjust it. That’s not failure—it’s key to success.