Can you believe 2021 is ending and the New Year is here? Many of us are setting goals and making resolutions for the 2022 year, but are our resolutions “SMART”? Here are some guidelines to remember while setting “SMART” goals for 2022:
SPECIFIC: Goals should be clear and easy to understand. “Get healthy” doesn’t set a specific goal. How are you planning to be healthy? Are you going to eat more vegetables, exercise, read food labels?
MEASURABLE: Goals should be trackable and numerical. You need a specific goal to reach so that you can celebrate when you succeed! How many servings of vegetables will you reach for per day? How many minutes of exercise?
ATTAINABLE: Listen to your body and know your limits. Make sure your goals are motivating, but not extreme or unreachable. It’s okay to start small with an attainable short-term goal and work towards a long-term goal!
RELEVANT: Make sure that your goal is important to you and where you are in life. If your goal means nothing to you, will you reach for it? When writing your goal, include your WHY. Do you want to eat healthy to reduce risk of disease? Do you exercise to stay in shape for your grandkids? Do you have quiet time to reset so that you can have a mindful day?
TIME-BOUND: Put an end point on your goal(s) so that you can reach them and celebrate! Reevaluate when you reach a goal and set a new one.
Are you still having trouble finding a solid resolution for the New Year? Below are three themes and examples to guide you along the way. Remember, these are basic themes. Be sure to make these “SMART” goals by making them specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
Mental Wellness:
• Spend time doing something you enjoy (being outdoors, baking, sewing, woodworking, etc).
• Find some mindful breathing exercises.
• Schedule quiet time or rest each day. This is much needed for your mind AND body!
Physical Activity:
• Bike, walk, run, weight-train, swim, garden, do outdoor chores.
• Get moving with a friend to stay motivated.
• Park further in the parking lot to get extra steps.
• Get up and move every hour. Set an alarm to remind yourself
Mindful Eating:
• Increase fruit and vegetable intake.
• Limit the days you choose to eat out.
• Try meal planning to save money while being intentional about what foods you eat.
• Choose to focus on one thing, master it, then try something new!