Setting Health Goals

We all set goals for work, for education, for careers and for life in general. What about setting goals for your health? How many times have you wanted to diet, exercise only to say “I will do it tomorrow, I will start my diet tomorrow or I will start exercise tomorrow”.  For patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, COPD, etc. postponing those goals can bring bad consequences.

Setting goals is the start of the road to better health. Do you keep your promises? Goals are a type of promise that you make to yourself. Honor your commitments, especially those made to yourself.  For each goals, smaller steps can be set so as not to get over whelmed.  Set SMART goals:

S: Specific

Be specific, don’t just say I will exercise starting tomorrow. State how much and what types of exercise you will do. Example: I will start exercising tomorrow, I will start walking 30 minutes three days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the morning.

M:Measurable

Have a way to measure your progress. if you are trying to loose weight for example; weigh your self daily or at the end of every week.  If you are going to start walking measure how far you walk for 30 minutes or how fast.

A:Attainable

Your goals should be meaningful to you, they  should specific to you and they should be goals that you really want to achieve.

R:Realistic

Your goals should not be impossible but goals you will be able to work toward.  Loosing 20 lbs in one month is probably not realistic. Create a plan and commit to it.

T:Time sensitive

Set a time in which you will accomplish your goals. Saying “I will work three times a week for 30 minutes” is good but not as good as saying “I will walk three times a week for 30 minutes per week and will walk 3 miles in 30 minutes by the end of three months”.

Writing down your goals, making a very specific plan and sharing it with friends or love ones can increase the odds that you will stick to your goals. Commit to your self and improve your health today.