Sometimes we don’t reach goals we set because we didn’t have a proper or realistic goal in mind, or because our action plan was unmanageable.
How do we regroup and figure out our next steps forward?
Well, in the case of health, fitness and wellness, we know right away that it is a worthwhile goal to increase these areas of our lives. We need tangible ways to measure success and keep us on track.
Starting with SMART goals is important. Identifying specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based goals is key to accomplishing the greater goals of increasing your health, fitness and wellness.
For example, let’s say I want to lower my LDL (bad) cholesterol. Heart disease runs in my family, and I want to be as healthy as possible and avoid it as long as I possibly can. I set a specific goal: within the next 12 months, I wish to lower my LDL cholesterol from the above normal state to normal state. I will measure this by the bloodwork done with my primary care doctor on my annual physical next February. This is an attainable goal, relevant to my greater goal of great health, fitness and wellness in my life, and is time-based: I’ll have my next annual physical next February. It is a SMART goal.
Once we have a SMART goal, we’ve got to have a plan of action to achieve it. This is where “attainable,” “measurable” and “time-based” come into play: what are the steps needed to accomplish this goal within this timeframe? Are these steps feasible considering that we have other goals we are working towards, perhaps in other areas of life, at the same time? Can we break the steps down into measurable chunks to cross off as we go?
Using the example above of lowering my LDL, a few of my action steps became: sticking to my exercise routine 5-6 days/week, 3 of those workouts being aerobic/cardiovascular in nature, reducing my intake of saturated fats, and increasing my intake of omega-3s in the form of fish as well as being mindful of my intake of fiber-rich and plant-based foods. These are measurable steps, they are attainable, and, for me, is a manageable plan of action.
This is one of the areas we really shine in our relationship and work with our clients. We help you to identify SMART goals and create an actionable game plan with accountability to guide you towards accomplishing them.
What do you wish to accomplish with your health, fitness and wellness? Let’s explore what it would look like with our help. Apply today for an Exploratory Session.
“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” — Benjamin E. Mays