What is typically the goal during the Maintenance stage of change?

During the Maintenance stage of change, the primary goal is to avoid regression or drift. This stage follows the Action stage and is crucial for ensuring that the changes made are sustained over time. Individuals have already successfully implemented new behaviors or changes; now the focus shifts to maintaining those positive changes without reverting to previous patterns.

In this stage, individuals actively work to consolidate their gains and reinforce their commitment to the new behaviors. Strategies may include ongoing support, monitoring progress, and addressing challenges that could lead to backsliding. The emphasis is on remaining vigilant and proactive to ensure that the established changes become a permanent part of their lifestyle or routine.

The other options relate to different stages of the change process or serve distinct purposes outside the Maintenance stage, like planning or assessing readiness, which are not the main focus during this phase.