Finding Health in the New Year

 

It’s that time of year again and after the holidays, many of us take the time to reflect on ourselves, and make goals for the next trip around the sun. Here are some tips for making sure that you get all your health-related goals accomplished this year.

Start Smart

Goals, like everything else, only get accomplished if we actually work for them. But a large goal can seem insurmountable, and if we are daunted by it, we may never get started. It’s helpful to break down our goals into a simple plan of how we will accomplish them. For example, if we want to start getting healthier, make a specific plan. What does healthier mean to you? Are you trying to lose weight? Gain it? Eat better? Figure out what you want, and what will need to happen for you to get there. If you are going to lose weight, identify the changes that you need to make. Then, put small steps into effect. Making a plan to be active for thirty minutes a day, and then following through is an excellent first step.

Don’t Lose Momentum

Usually when we decide to make a change, it’s because we are feeling the negative effects associated with whatever we are missing. However, when we start solving a problem, our brains can activate some of the reward circuitry involved. This is one of the reasons that we sometimes start things but don’t end up finishing them. A good way to keep on track is to have measurable goals. A fitness tracker app or calendar can help us to track whether we are meeting our goals. It is a lot more helpful to see that we have exercised 180 out of 210 target minutes for a week than it is to know that you think you exercised a reasonable amount. This lets us connect our progress with the steps necessary to achieve it, and can play a large role in helping us stick with our plans, and get where we want to be.

Look Beyond a Finish Line

Don’t forget to look past the goals you set. Once you have changed your fitness or learned a new skill, new doors will open to you. Pay attention, and be on the lookout for more things that you want to add to your life. If we constantly keep growing, our lives will only be richer.

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