Setting your New Year's Goals

The ever popular New Year resolution season is here. Many of us set goals and let them quickly fizzle within a few weeks. How do you keep your resolutions? What are some good resolutions to make? How do you make a really good resolution?

Goal setting can be an invaluable tool for success in life. However, many people don't know how to set and follow a goal. A good goal has three components.

1) A good goal is measurable and specific.
2) A good goal is reasonable.
3) A good goal is written down in an obvious place for review and reminder.

Many people say things like "I'm going to exercise more". This is not measurable or specific. What does more mean? The questions how often and how long need to be answered. I also hear people set goals like "I'm going to exercise two hours everyday". This is possibly unreasonable. Time, family, job, and necessity all need to be considered when setting an exercise and/or nutrition goal.

A really good beginning goal might be: I will walk on the treadmill 30 minutes at least every other day and if time allows every day.

Or if you are trying to eat healthier maybe one nutrition goal every few days is good. Sometimes we try to do it all at once and it becomes overwhelming. So decide to stop eating sugar and then a week later decide to start eating one more cup of fruits or vegetables a day. Conquer one specific goal and then add in another one. Before you know it you will be fit and healthy!

Remember everyone's body is different. Everyone needs to decide what works best for them. Use a sticky note on the fridge to help you remember your goals. But also journaling about your goals will document your progress. Once you conquer your goal and throw away your sticky note, you will have a journal entry to review. It is always rewarding to go back and see all of your accomplishments!