Why not start with the easy stuff?
Intro – The focus of this activity is for people who are just getting started making changes toward substance use and mental health treatment goals. Start by discussing the following points about low hanging fruit
Low hanging fruit is a common metaphor
that refers to doing the simplest or easiest work first. Just like the phrase
sounds, fruit that hangs low on a tree is the easiest to grab with the least
effort.
Especially with more difficult tasks or dealing
with a long-term process, it makes sense to start going after low hanging fruit
first. Why not try to go after and get what is within reach early on?
Successfully going after low hanging fruit can bring some quick results that can fuel motivation to keep going
Discuss
and make personal application: In your personal situation, how can going
after low hanging fruit help you personally to start to achieve all of these
things?
Kickstarting
motivation
Build
up and increase early momentum
Fuels
and stimulates important feelings of encouragement and inspiration
Empowering
(Yes - I can do it!)
Decreases
discouragement (Helps avoid the feeling of wanting to give up)
Identifying Low Hanging Fruit for Your Goals
Directions: Start by identifying two or three (or more) areas where you have goals for positive change (Substance Use, Mental Health, Relationship, Social, Employment/Education, Financial, Family, Health, Other)
Under each life area are some examples of low hanging fruit: (Things you can reach for early in the change process to start making progress). Discuss any that you may have already achieved and then choose a few more that you can strive for soon, from the examples provided or come up with your own ideas.
Substance Use
- Clear home of booze/drugs/paraphernalia
- Delete dealers contact info from phone
- Sober support- Try to go to a meeting or schedule time with someone who is doing well
- Find and try a sober hobby
- Medication Assisted Treatment (Suboxone, Methadone, Vivitrol etc.)
- Other?
Mental Health
- See a counselor for individual therapy
- See a prescriber (APN/psychiatrist)
- Practice a basic coping skill every day – Relaxation skills – Self-care – Stress management
- Other?
Close Relationships
- Basic conflict resolution skills
- Assertiveness/boundaries (learn to say no)
- Couples/family counseling
- Other?
Social Functioning
- Therapy to learn about self, manage anxiety, increase self esteem
- Prescriber – medicine for social anxiety?
- Learn and start to practice basic social skills
Family
- Schedule family therapy session
- Increase daily effort to openly communicate your feelings with family peacefully
- Other?
Education
- Go online and look at application process for school or training program
- Research a course of study that interests you
- Other?
Financial
- Work on a budget
- Other?
Employment
- Start a job search
- Fill out some applications
- Other?
Health
- Exercise
- Join a gym
- Research and start a healthy hobby
- Plan a diet
- Other?
Basic life improvement – Other easy life improvement ideas?
- Organize daily structure – Use a daily planner
- Organize home environment and chore schedule
- Other?
Closing
Discussion – Summarize your goals and go for it
Evaluate
your successes:
What are some examples of low hanging fruit that you are already doing well
with?
Overcome
obstacles:
Be honest: What are some examples of low hanging fruit that you know that you
really should be going after but for some reason you are not?
Consider and discuss some possible causes of
not going after low hanging fruit. Do any of these apply in your situation?
Procrastination-
(I’ll do it tomorrow)
Just
not ready (hesitant, anxious or afraid of change?)
Headstrong/Unmotivated
(I just don’t want to)
Denial/Lack
of insight (Deep down I still don’t believe that I need to change)
Other?
Go
for it: What are one or two
(or three?) low hanging fruit goals that were discussed in this group you can
commit to trying to start today?
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