First, take a moment to reflect on your positive attributes. Think of all the wonderful people in your life and great accomplishments. Consider not only what you would like to change, but what you would like to remain the same. Goals can build on your successes to help fade your negative thoughts. Keep in mind the power of exercise and nutrition to benefit your health when creating goals.
Follow these tips for setting goals towards a healthier you:
- Be realistic: Set small changes for long-term impact. If your goal is to drop 30 pounds, try an achievable goal of aiming to reduce one pound per week. Focus on one goal and add to it once it is part of your lifestyle.
- For example, consume at least five servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day. Once you think of all the nutrition you can add, take away the extra sweets or fried foods.
- Be specific: "I want to start exercising." How will you increase your physical activity? Set the number of days per week and the duration of exercise. You can increase the frequency and length once you achieve your goal.
- For example, start off with walking for 10 minutes a day during your lunch break, three days a week. Increase your exercise towards five days a week for 30 minutes.
- Be flexible: Toss the "all or nothing" mindset. Your goals can change over time. Twelve months is a long time to push your resolutions aside. Setting goals each month will allow you to track your progress or set new ambitions.
- Recognize circumstances can change throughout the year. Your schedule or an injury may interrupt a daily work out. You can shift your goals to balanced meal planning, which still supports your overall goal to lose weight.
- Be patient: Progress takes time. Your goals may not change instantly overnight (if only it was that simple). Goals that are worthwhile are worth the hard effort.
- If you stray from your meal plan, do not beat yourself up. Accept and recognize the challenge and create a plan to get back on track with your next meal.
- Be supportive: Support yourself and others for making changes for the better. Surround yourself with people who will inspire your new goals and offer the same positive support to others in return.
- Find friends and family with similar interests. Meet new friends at a local wellness fair or at the gym. Set a walking date or make a schedule to attend the same group exercise class each week.
- Be kind: Remember to be kind to others as you start the New Year. Be grateful for your experiences and the people in your life. Spend time with loved ones and discover ways to give back to your community. You can learn from helping others in need.
- Volunteer opportunities are everywhere in your area such as helping out a local youth group, fundraising for an organization, donating time or supplies to a food bank, or helping to support a family devastated by a medical diagnosis.
Make your goals important to you. Share your optimistic intentions with your friends and family. Don't sit around waiting for tomorrow; take the time for yourself and your health today!