Set Your Goals and Make Them Happen!
The start of a New Year is a joyous and exciting time, as well as a time of new beginnings and New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe you enjoy making New Year's resolutions and setting new goals for yourself, or maybe that doesn't quite resonate with you, but around this time we do see an increase in people going to the gym, trying to eat healthy and make positive lifestyle changes. While we love the idea of creating a resolution for yourself and becoming your healthiest and best self, we also want to make sure these are long-term changes that will exponentially benefit your health and not just a month-long change. Here are some tips so the goals you create can be long-lasting.
SET YOUR GOALS & MAKE THEM HAPPEN!
Goals are great! We love having a goal we are working towards and find that people do better when they have specific goals they want to achieve. To make a goal work best for you, make sure it is a “S.M.A.R.T.S.” goal - Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, Timely and Self-Determined.
Specific and Measurable:
Creating a specific goal means dialing in on exactly what you want. Do you want to get fitter (general) or be able to do 10 pull-ups (specific)? Do you want to eat healthy (general) or incorporate at least 4 cups of vegetables into your diet (specific)? Create your goals with specificity and measurable outcomes in mind for better results.
Action-Oriented:
Making a goal that is action-oriented means you have a plan to carry out your goal. If your goal is to have better sleep hygiene, your plan could include: setting an alarm for the time you need to start getting ready for bed, avoiding blue light and electronics an hour before bed, and making a sleep routine for you to wind down and relax. If your goal is to eat healthier, your plan could include: finding healthy recipes that you would like to make, having healthy foods and snacks in the house to avoid temptations, etc. When making a goal, make a plan too!
Realistic:
We firmly believe you can do whatever you set your mind to. One thing to keep in mind with setting a “stretch” goal is to have goals to work up to that. If your goal is to run a marathon, but you have never run one before, it is important to start with goals that are achievable to you and then build up from there. Your goal is possible! For example, you could start with running a 5k, then a 10k, then a half marathon and then the full marathon. Many times, when we create goals that are unrealistic at first (but can be achieved with time and work), we get tired and give up too early. Creating goals that are realistic and challenging is the best way to go.
Timely:
Create both short-term and long-term goals, and set them within a given timeframe to motivate you to complete it. If your goal is to exercise everyday, start with a short-term goal where you work out 2 days per week for the first two weeks, then 3 days per week for the next two weeks, then 4 days per week for the next two weeks after that, and building up until you are easily and effortlessly working out everyday.
Self-Determined:
The best goals are the ones that come from you. Making goals with others is a great way to create accountability and support, but making sure the goal is something that is really important to you is key. We also encourage you to journal about your goals - here are some prompts to get you started: Why do you want this goal? What is the underlying motivation for it? How will it change your life? How will you feel after reaching your goal?
Written by: Chelsea Smithback, ND