How To Make S.M.A.R.T Healthy Habits And Goals

Setting goals, both for health and for other reasons, is important. However, making sure the goal is right for you is even more crucial. To help ensure you have success with your wellness goal, use the S.M.A.R.T. method. This simple method gets you on the right track no matter what healthy habit you want to take up, from running a 5K to drinking more water. Write down your S.M.A.R.T. goal to remind yourself of the great things you are working towards. You'll be on your way to your best self in no time!

Be Specific About The Goal

The first step in forging a new healthy habit is to be specific about the goal. Thinking vaguely about the big picture of what you want to achieve can often leave you feeling confused or like you haven't accomplished anything. For example, don't just say you want to be healthier. Instead, make your goal more tangible, like eating a more balanced diet. Having something specific to work towards makes it easier to stay on track with your goal. You won't feel as overwhelmed when you know exactly what steps you need to take to make your goal happen! The more specific the goal, the better.

Figure Out How The Goal Will Be Measured

The next step in setting a goal with the S.M.A.R.T. method is to figure out how the goal will be measured. Once you have the specific goal in mind, you need to come up with a way to quantify your progress. If your goal is to lose a certain overall amount weight, you might measure your goal as pounds lost or days spent at the gym each week. Having a measurable goal allows you to track how far you have come and clearly shows you when you have accomplished that goal. It also makes scheduling time commitments to your new healthy habit a lot easier!

The Habit Must Be Realistically Attainable

Sometimes setting goals can be frustrating. Large or long-term goals might make you feel like you haven't achieved anything, which is why many individuals quit before they meet their goals. This is why when you want to start a new healthy habit, the habit must be realistically attainable. Smaller, more achievable goals give you little victories that can give you the confidence boost to eventually reach those larger goals in the long term. For instance, if you want to lose weight, don't start with a goal of shedding fifty pounds in a month. Instead, set a smaller weight loss goal you can more easily reach so you don't feel discouraged.

Make The Goal Relevant To Needs And Other Goals

The next step when setting a goal using the S.M.A.R.T. method is to ask yourself, "is the goal relevant to needs and other goals?" This means figuring out why you want to start this habit and whether it is worthwhile. Figuring out exactly why you are motivated to achieve this goal will help you stay more on track with it. Maybe you want to lose weight because you want to look good at your wedding or because you want to be able to run around with your kids. Making the goal relevant to your life puts a personal spin on it, giving you more motivation to work towards it.

Clear Timeline For The Habit Or Goal

Finally, the S.M.A.R.T. method suggests individuals have a clear timeline for the habit or goal. Letting yourself have all the time in the world to achieve your goal lets you sit back and get to it later rather than working on making positive changes right now. On the other hand, you should not set a goal that is too much, too fast either. As mentioned above, you can't expect to lose fifty pounds in a month or run a marathon after only one week of training. Giving yourself a realistic and challenging timeline creates urgency without stressing you out or making you feel discouraged.