We are super exciting to have the one and only Amy Peterson, RN, personal trainer, and group fitness instructor extraordinaire as our guest blogger today! Amy’s been a guest on our first and second Living Wellness LIVE shows inspiring us with fitness and wellness tips and her witty sense of humor. Click the links here to see the Facebook LIVE recap videos of our shows: Show 1 and Show 2. Without further ado, here’s Amy with some great tips for jump starting or re-starting your 2018 wellness goals.
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January is that time of year where you get to start fresh. It’s a new year and there’s something inspiring about starting out with a clean slate. Setting goals are on the priority list for many people this time of the year. Unfortunately, though, not everyone attains their goals. You get busy, lose focus, the momentum slows, and, quite possibly, you might even forget them…not that that ever happens to me! 😊
Over the past 10 years, I’ve seen many clients and friends succeed in accomplishing their goals, and I’ve seen many stall or just give up on their goals. Let me just say that it is never to late to start prioritizing your health by making some SMART goals, no matter how small of a goal it is.
Let me share with you by five best tips for goal setting to stay on track—to stay focused—and keep your momentum. Let’s reach our goals together in 2018!
#1. Just start! Take out that new journal or maybe your phone and write it down! What do you want to achieve? Goal setting can be applied to any part of your life-- health and wellness, family, work, financial, spiritual, the list goes on and on! What’s the biggest secret to accomplishing your goals? KNOWING them! Write them down because even though in your best intentions you will try to remember them, life will get crazy and you may get side tracked at times.
#2. Keep that pencil out and write down “WHY”…Why did you choose this as your goal? This step is so important to do, because you will need to come back to this when things are getting tough and you feel like quitting! I look at this as your mission statement! Examples:
“I want to lose weight so I don’t have to hide behind my clothes”
“I want to be able to take those stairs at work and not feel like I’m going to pass out”
“I want to feel more energetic and be a better role model for my children”
Write down your “Why” for every goal you set, this well help you stay focused! What’s even better than just writing the why? Add a picture to it! Put up a picture of the clothes you want to feel great in, the stairs, your kids, or whatever summarizes your goal the best.
#3. Now that you have completed step 1 & 2 follow a S.M.A.R.T approach to goal setting. Read more on page 17 of Living Wellness for Growth Groups.
S=Small/Specific. Pick a small goal that you can achieve in 2-4 weeks. Starting small builds your confidence and helps you feel successful!
M=Measurable. Put a value on that goal so it can be measured. Example: “How many days a week do you wish to exercise?” or “How many pounds a week do you wish to lose?” or “How many hours of sleep do you wish to get in a night?”
A=Achievable. Your goals need to be realistic, so you can achieve them. It's no fun to fail--so set yourself up to achieve!
R=Rewarding/Relevant. List out all the benefits this goal has for you. Write. it. out! Reward yourself as you achieve those small goals--keep the momentum going and build you confidence! Yes you can!
T= Time Specific. Set a deadline, this will help you stay focused! Make sure to write down your deadline--stay on track!
#4. Please realize that YOU are your #1 Fan and Coach! There is no negative talk allowed! You need to practice visualizing your success! You need to stay positive! Changing habits is not easy. If it were, everyone would do it! Make sure to always come back to your “Why” statement! Read more here on why visualizing yourself succeeding is so important.
#5. Make sure to look at those goals you wrote down for yourself at least every day! This will help you stay focused and keep that momentum going! Put your goals on the bathroom mirror, on the fridge door, on your workout shoes, wherever it is that will make you most likely to see it daily and make them become a reality.
There is no better time than right now! Just start, put all those thoughts into action and make this the best year ever in 2018! Did I mention to write them down???
Amy Peterson
You are worth more than mediocre. You are worth exceptional health!
© 2018 Living Wellness, LLC Revolutionizing health, one community at a time.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any illnesses or disease. Please always check with your doctor before beginning any new nutritional or fitness program or before making any nutritional/fitness changes.