How to set a goal that you can actually achieve

Have you thought about your New Year’s resolutions? 

If you’ve ever set a goal in January, and then found yourself struggling to keep up by February… You need to read this blog!!

A 2019 study by fitness company Strava found that most resolutions are abandoned by January 19. 

Don’t let yours end up the same way. 

Take a moment to run through this goals exercise, and you’ll have a SOLID plan for actually making them happen!

STEP 1: Think of an area in your life that you want to improve. 

Example: “I want to get better at eating healthy foods.

STEP 2: Reflect on WHY you want to improve. 

Ex: “I want to get better at eating healthy foods, so I can improve my health and maintain a healthy weight.

Now, here’s the difference between a resolution that’s destined to fail, and a goal that you can achieve— a goal is SMART! 

Let’s turn your resolution into a SMART goal. 

STEP 3: Check— is this goal Specific?

Don’t generalize— drill down to a specific action or end result you can achieve. 

Ex: “I want to eat healthy meals for dinner more nights.”

STEP 4: Check— is this goal Measurable?

Make sure you can easily keep track & measure when you have succeeded. 

Ex: “I want to eat healthy meals for dinner 4 nights a week.” 

STEP 5: Check— is this goal Attainable?

Do you have the means to make it happen? How?

Ex: “I want to eat healthy meals for dinner 4 nights a week by implementing a meal planning session on Sundays.” 

STEP 6: Check— is this goal Timely?

Give yourself a “due date” or set a specific time period you’ll be working on it

Ex: “I want to eat healthy meals for dinner 4 nights a week for three months.” 

STEP 7: Write it down somewhere relevant,

where you’ll see it every day. This is the big one!

Ex: Since this goal is about meal planning, I might hang a note on the fridge, where I’d see it every time I come into the kitchen, or set a reminder that pops up on my phone every Sunday. 

STEP 8: Add some accountability!

Tell a friend, family member, spouse, neighbor, coworker… Someone who can nudge you occasionally about your goal, and maybe help you work on it. You can encourage them to share a goal with you, too. 

Ex: “Hey, [friend’s name]— I set a goal to eat healthy meals for dinner 4 nights a week until March. Will you help me reach it by asking me what I’m eating for dinner whenever you see me?”


STEP 9: Share your goal in the comments!

Let’s inspire each other, swap ideas, get some feedback, and hold each other accountable!

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If you would like to discuss how you can create the thoughts you need to support achieving your health goals, schedule a call with me now to discuss.

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