It’s January, a new year and time for new goals and resolutions. Assistant Director for Wellness at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln Campus Recreation, Kimberly Barrett provides great insight below for writing your new years resolutions and goals. Enjoy!
It’s a NEW YEAR! And it is going to bring the BEST “ME” EVER!!!!
Goal Setting for Your Health
Do these words look familiar?
| I will workout for an hour a day every day! |
| I will only eat healthy food! |
Like many, you may be gearing up to begin the ritual New Year’s resolution (NYR) to be the “BEST” person you can be this year. So, how do you make it last more than the typical 6-8 weeks of gradual attrition?
We’ve gotta get SMART about it. Do you REALLY want to make “it” (whatever “it” is) happen?
Ask yourself, is my NYR…
SPECIFIC- behaviorally?
MEASURABLE?
| I will control my stress- my stress will not control me! |
| I will lose 10 pounds before Spring Break |
ATTAINABLE?
RELEVENT?
TIME BOUND?
Let’s put this into practice…
NYR: I will workout for an hour a day every day!
SMART NYR: Ok, listen…if this was easy to do, we would all be there with you. Consider how much time you currently workout. Guidelines for health state a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. Are you there now? If not, find your average baseline and improve that by 10-20% each week that you are successful.
The SMART NYR might read: I will work out for a combined total of 150 minutes January 1-7.
NYR: I will only eat healthy food.
SMART NYR: What is “healthy” food? Remember, health is about balancing of your mind, body, and soul. Do you really mean you are going to cut down on eating fried foods, or want to add more unprocessed foods and fruits and veggies. The SMART NYR might read: I will add an apple to my breakfast meal 5 days/week.
NYR: I will lose 10 lbs before Spring Break.
SMART NYR: Isn’t this a pretty specific goal? Well…not for a NYR. You don’t just naturally “lose” weight, correct? You have to actually change a behavior…or two…or three to get this end result. So, let’s tweak this sentence to be more “actionable”. Ready? The SMART goal might read: I will walk 30 minutes/day 5 days per week January 1-January 14; then will evaluate my progress and establish a new activity goal.
Kimberly has provided great guidelines to get you started. And remember if you need additional help, there are qualified professional available to help you with your goal setting. Contact us through Campus Recreation. And have a Happy, Helathful 2012.
