This is the time of year when most of us start thinking about our goals for the new year. In doing so, we may look back on last year and berate ourselves because things didn’t quite work out the way we’d hoped. Well, never mind, it’s not too late to work on your health goals. January has just begun and with some thought, you can set about making goals that will help you succeed this year.
In order to set goals that will give you the results you want, you must:
- Be clear about what you want. No one knows your body like you do, and no one knows your needs like you do. So, what do you want? Do you simply want to lose weight in order to look better? Or do you want to lose weight because it will help you lower your A1C? If yes to the latter, what would you want that A1C to be? Write your goals down in a clear and concise manner and you will be on the first step to success.
- Use the SMART system to define your health goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC, and TIME BOUND. Here is an example: I will lose ten pounds in ten weeks. Specific – the amount of weight you want to lose. Measurable – you can measure your weight loss. Achievable – this is a reasonable amount of weight to lose according to health experts. Realistic – experts say you should aim at losing 1 to 2 pounds a week, and Time bound is necessary to help you achieve this goal in a timely manner.
- Hold yourself accountable. When you work for someone, he/she holds you accountable. In order to stick to your goals, it might be a good idea to have someone hold you accountable. Tell them what your goals are, why you are working toward them and how you would like that person to help you. This support will help keep you in line when you are tempted to give up or when you fall off the wagon.
A new year is a time to begin anew — reflect on the past, take a critical look at what worked and what didn’t and get started on those goals. By following the steps above, you can supercharge your goals and supercharge your health this year.
However, if you need that extra nudge, why not join me for a simple five-day challenge to supercharge your goals? Just click on this link.
Hi everyone, it’s the second Wednesday of the year. How is it going so far? What are you doing today to help you move toward your goals for 2018? I’m not just talking about health goals. I’m talking about any type of goal – relationships, work, health, spiritual, whatever.