Setting Goals for The New Year and Keeping Them

With the New Year comes a new chapter and the time for you to work on yourself and set new goals. It’s fun to think about making changes to your routine and setting goals, but there is more to it than just thinking about it. Especially if you want to achieve your goal. In order to set yourself up for success, it is important to make your goals SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.) For example, a non-SMART goal would be to say, “I am going to work out more.” Although this goal has good intentions there is nothing there to help you achieve your goal. To make it a SMART goal it would be “I am going to work out for 20 min 3 x a week.” This is more specific, measurable, and therefore is more achievable.

Try these tips to help you set and achieve your goal for the New Year.

1. Break down your goal into daily habits. In order to achieve a goal, you must have the building blocks for success which boil down to your routines. What do you need to do every day to achieve your goal? If your goal is to start working out, consider habits such as waking up earlier, stretching before you work out, going to the gym 3 x day etc. Starting a small habit like this will help drive you to achieve your goal.

2. Make your goal fun. Fitness goals are fun in the beginning, but sometimes our healthy habits can start to feel more like a burden. Don’t let the monotony of the same thing everyday cause frustration. Mix it up by finding fun activities you love to do to help you avoid a plateau.

3. Find a buddy. What’s more fun than achieving a goal? Doing it with a buddy of course! Whether it is a workout goal or eating healthier, it’s always going to be more fun if you have someone doing the same thing you are. It also gives a level of accountability to help you follow through on your goal.

4. Find a reason to celebrate. Achieving a goal isn’t always just getting from point A to point B, there are many things that happen along the way that count for something. For example…Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy? Has your mood been more positive? Non-scale victories are sure to help you see the change you are looking for and can help to keep you motivated to stay on track for prize.

5. Go slow. When starting a new routine or activity, it’s important to listen to your body and not start too fast. Often your body is not used to the activity level you are trying to achieve, and this can lead to increased stress on your tissues and compensation which may lead to an overuse injury.

6. Stay healthy. If pain from an underlying injury is preventing you from achieving your goals and doing the activities you love to do, schedule an appointment today. Dr. Victoria can help by pinpointing the source of pain and getting you back to your daily activities fast.