Credit: Forbes
With the new year creeping around the corner, many of us are beginning to form a list of things we want to accomplish in the new year. When the clock strikes January first, we have all these ideas about how to be a better version of ourselves. We have a new diet plan and/or a new exercise regimen we want to try out to help ourselves be the healthiest versions of ourselves and we are motivated to get going.
But a vast majority of New Year resolutions don’t even make it past mid-January. Why? A number of reasons could factor into this– maybe you don’t have a realistic plan for achieving your resolution, or the resolution was too vague.
Credit: Gretchen Rubin
The best way to set a resolution you are likely to achieve is to be SMART. The acronym stands for:
- Specific. Make your goal as concrete as possible. Instead of saying “lose weight,” plan to “lose 20 pounds by July.” You could even break it down further by saying “lose 3 pounds every month.”
- Measurable. With the weight loss example, this is simple. Record your weight loss progress with weekly check-ins. Take pictures of yourself in the same clothes every month to really gauge how well the progress is going. Logging it into a journal or an app is a great way to keep yourself accountable.
- Achievable. If your goals are too big, you are far more likely to grow frustrated and lose motivation. Having these big goals is great to keep in the back of your mind, but keep more achievable ones in the forefront– such as the simple goal of losing three pounds a month. It’ll be even more exciting when you lose more weight than your goal weight as opposed to not quite reaching the mark.
- Relevant. Your resolutions should be goals that really matter to you and not born out of self-hate. Instead, think about how these goals will be good for you. Your resolution should be less about fitting into those pair of pants and more about feeling better than you’ve felt in months or years.
- Time-bound. Make a realistic timeline for yourself. Losing 20 pounds by July is far more realistic than losing 20 pounds by March 1. Give yourself the time to you need (with smaller goals around the way) to form a real, sustainable habit. Gradual progress is more sustainable than sudden progress.
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Having SMART goals will help you keep up with your resolutions even long after they are no longer resolutions. Of course there will be hurdles– if your goal is to run a 5k by the end of the year, being able to run each subsequent mile is another goal you have to hit. Instead of beating yourself up for not running how far you want to be able to run, reward yourself for running as far as you were able to, then figure out a plan to help you get around the obstacle.
Another important key is to allow yourself some flexibility. Some days, you won’t be able to exercise for an hour like you planned– be it a physical barrier or a time barrier. Exercise for as long as you can instead, because the fact that you’re doing it in the first place is what is most important.
Credit: MyNetDiary
Having assistance achieving your goals is another great way to stay on track. If you have been struggling with weight loss, get in contact with us. Each of our weight loss plans are tailored to each specific client’s life and needs, because a personalized plan is the best way to stick with it. Medically supervised weight loss is the best, safest way to achieve the healthiest version of yourself.
Let us help you achieve your resolutions. Contact us today to learn more about our personalized weight loss plans.