Initiating behavioral change to achieve a healthier lifestyle can be difficult. A simple tool for increasing your motivation is to create a goal list. Clearly defined and achievable goals help you maintain focus and can enable lifestyle changes that can improve your health and well being.
Objectives
Before creating a goal list, define your objectives. What do you want to work toward? For example, you may want to achieve a healthier lifestyle by losing weight. Your main objective is weight loss. Identifying the overall objective enables you to plan how to achieve this. Creating a goal list of steps is required to obtain your main objective.
Planning
Planning a goal list enables you to break down the main objective into smaller, more achievable tasks. It can be easy to become overwhelmed when attempting to implement a lifestyle change. This applies to all objectives that seek to improve health, such as weight loss and stopping smoking. In the planning stage, recognize what needs to change in your lifestyle in order to meet your main objective.
Goal Setting
You have identified the change you want to make, now use this information to set realistic goals. Consider how you are going to incorporate this change into your life. Start with small goals. Do not set unrealistic targets that you won't be able to achieve. This often results in failure. Your initial goal list should be realistic and achievable.
Tracking
Monitor your progress. Achieving the goals you set and tracking the changes you are making can be a motivating factor. Recognize your achievements and celebrate your success. Track when things are not going well. If you are not achieving your initial goals, reconsider those goals and review your goal list.
Review
Review and evaluate your goal list regularly. If you are easily managing to achieve your set goals, it is time to create a more challenging goal list. This helps the impetus for on-going change. If you are not managing quite so well, you have overestimated what you are able to change and need to re-think your goal list and set goals that are manageable. This is not a failure, it's recognizing that smaller steps are required to achieve your objectives.
References
- "Goal Setting as a Strategy for Health Behavior Change in Health Education & Behavior"; Victor J. Strecher; 1995
- "Health Promotion by Social Cognitive Means in Health Education & Behavior" ; Albert Bandura; 2004
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