How to Set Health Goals That Fit Your Real Life, with Megan Rafuse, MSW, RSW (ep – 79)

How are those New Year’s resolutions going? Have you started working toward everything you hoped for this year? If those questions bring up a little discomfort, take a breath — you’re not alone.



In this episode, Dr. Ginger Hultin dives into realistic, compassionate goal-setting with psychotherapist and CEO of Shift Collab, Megan Rafuse. When it comes to health goals, it’s easy to slip into cycles of self-criticism, perfectionism, and shame, especially for high-achieving, motivated people. Together, Ginger and Megan unpack why this happens and, more importantly, what actually helps. From shrinking goals into manageable steps, to evaluating the season of life you’re in, to building the right support systems, this conversation offers a practical framework for change.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

[00:00] Why health goals feel overwhelming in the new year

[03:44] How to set realistic health goals that actually fit your real life

[06:25] Why most health goals fail

[08:20] Perfectionism, high achievers, and the pressure of “doing health right”

[10:46] Behavioral activation, micro-goals, and taking tiny steps

[15:19] Season-of-life goal setting and sustainable, supportive tradeoffs

[18:40] Creating a support system for health goals

[21:23] Why being human is part of successful behavior change

Connect with Dr. Ginger Hultin on Instagram, LinkedIn or her website.

Connect with Megan Rafuse on Instagram, LinkedIn or website.

Disclaimer: The material presented in this podcast, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should seek the recommendation of a medical professional regarding a medical condition or treatment or before starting a new nutrition and/or health regimen.

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