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Set a Goal for Improvement
Most of us could use a little improvement when it
comes to our health habits. Perhaps we could eat better, exercise more, or get
some long-delayed medical screening. To go beyond wishing or hoping to actual
accomplishment takes a little effort on our part. Setting and working toward a
specific goal is a proven way to accomplish what we want.
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Keep it
positive. Make goals something to achieve rather than something to avoid.
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Be honest
with yourself. Be sure this goal is actually important to you, that you are
not trying solely to please your spouse, friend or doctor.
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Know where
you are now so you can set a reasonable goal for yourself. This may mean
observing yourself for a week to see what your habits actually are.
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Be as
specific as you can be when setting a goal. General goals are less likely to
be reached.
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Put a
timeframe into your goal. We all seem to do better when we have a deadline.
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Develop
your goal in a step-wise fashion with short-term, easy to reach intermediate
goals.
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Once you
have met a short term goal, congratulate yourself and move on to another
short term goal that will help you achieve your overall goal.
Here are a
couple of examples of goals which meet the criteria noted above.
Example one
Long term goal: to eat in a healthier way. After writing down everything I eat
for a week, I can see that I don’t eat much fruit.
Short term
goal: I’ll start by eating a piece of fruit for mid-morning snack at least three
days a week at work.
Steps to
accomplish this goal:
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Buy three
pieces of fruit at the grocery store when shopping for this week’s
groceries.
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Take the
fruit with me to work the next day.
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Put up
reminder messages at work station to eat fruit at break.
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Eat fruit
at break when I am hungry.
Example two
Long term goal: to get more exercise.
Short term
goal: to walk at least three times per week.
Steps to
accomplish this goal:
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Determine
when I can fit walking into my regular routine. If I walk right after
getting up in the morning, I am more likely to do it before other tasks
interfere.
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Set out
exercise clothes the night before as a reminder to walk this week on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday.
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Set alarm
half hour earlier on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights.
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Tell
spouse of plan and ask for support (or company!).
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Walk on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
What health
habit do you want to improve? What steps can you take today to start working
toward your goal?
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