Before you achieve anything in life, you have to set a goal. And I know you have wished to lose weight year in and year out with no results. The problem is that you set unrealistic goals and give up when you don’t achieve them.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, eat more healthy foods, or reduce stress, you need to set smart health goals that you can easily achieve. The problem with setting unrealistic goals is that you get disappointed when you don’t get the expected results. That’s why most people stop making New Year’s resolutions.
It is impossible to achieve your goals if you wait until January 1st of every year to write them and then forget about them. You must take daily action and keep reviewing your progress to get the desired results. This article shares ten smart health goals examples, how to set them, and easy steps to achieve them.
In This Article
Why Is It Important To Set Smart Health Goals?
Every year, businesses set projections for what they hope to achieve. On a personal level, you may have set financial or career goals that would positively impact your life. Before you see any changes in your health, you also need to have goals to keep you motivated because you know where you are going.
Without smart health goals, you will not know where you are now and how to achieve your desired health status. It’s like having a compass to lead you to where you want to go, except that health should be your highest priority because it affects all other areas of your life. Without a compass (smart health goals), it’s easy to remain in the same place year in and year out with the same health problems.
10 Tips for Setting SMART Health Goals that You can Achieve Effortlessly
The SMART goals system does not apply only to business or career goals. The technique will help you create goals that you can achieve effortlessly.
SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Before we get into the smart goals examples, here’s how to set goals you can achieve.
- Be specific: Be clear about what you want to achieve. Instead of setting a goal like “do more exercise” or “eat healthier,” set a specific goal such as “eat two servings of vegetables with each meal” or “run for 30 minutes three times a week.”
- Make it measurable: Make sure your goal is measurable so that you can track your progress and know if you’ve achieved it. For example, “I want to lose 4 kg by the end of the month” or “I will drink 2 liters of water daily.”
- Start small: setting unrealistic goals such as, “I want to lose 30kgs in a month,” is a plan to fail. Start with a realistic and achievable goal you can do, build momentum, and boost your confidence to achieve more.
- Set a deadline: Smart health goals have a timeline to give you a sense of urgency and motivate you to stay on track.
- Create an action plan: The only way to achieve your health goals is to have an action plan. Break down your goal into small actionable steps to make it manageable and easy to achieve. Research shows that breaking down goals into small steps is beneficial for people with mental health issues and has better management outcomes.
- Reward yourself: Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, to keep yourself motivated to stay on track. When you achieve a daily or monthly goal, do something you enjoy or what makes you feel good, like a movie or buying a new outfit.
- Be flexible: Life happens, and that’s okay! Don’t be too rigid with your goals. Be flexible and be willing to adjust your plan when you encounter setbacks. Remember that change doesn’t happen overnight, so do not get discouraged if you are a day. Get back up and keep at it. Your efforts will pay off in the long run.
- Focus on the journey, not just the destination: Instead of just focusing on the end result, focus on the process and the steps that you are taking to get there to make the journey more enjoyable and less stressful.
- Have an accountability partner: Share your goals with your friends or family who root for you to motivate and keep you in check.
- Believe in yourself: Have confidence that you have all it takes to achieve your health goals. Have a long-term approach, and always consider how your current actions will influence your future life. Taking charge of your health will help you stay fit physically and mentally. So do it for you.
10 SMART Health Goals Examples Worth Sticking To
Being out of shape comes with its fair share of trouble. It may be hard to climb the stairs, you may not like your body, or you may be predisposed to diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle diseases. Being healthy is not just about being slim; it is basically the absence of disease.
So, you have to set goals for your physical, emotional, and mental health. So, what are smart health goals? Are you ready to set fitness and wellness goals? Let’s look at some smart health goals examples.
Smart health goals examples for mental health
Being in a good mental space helps you handle stress and be productive. Here are some smart health goals examples to improve your mental health:
- I will journal every day to express my emotions
- I will read 1 chapter of an inspiring book every day
- I will have a solo date night/spa date every month to review my progress and pamper myself
Smart health goals examples for physical health
Your physical health determines your ability to move around and be disease-free. Here are four smart health goals examples to improve your physical health:
- I will eat two servings of vegetables for every meal daily to increase my fiber intake.
- I will reduce my soda intake from 3 bottles a week to one bottle by the end of one month.
- I will walk for 30 minutes five days a week.
- Sleep for 7 hours every day to rejuvenate my body.
Social health is the ability to create and nurture relationships with people in your circle and relate in a respectable and loving way. Here are some smart health examples to improve your social life:
- I will spend every Sunday with my kids to catch up.
- I will have a bi-weekly date night with my partner to catch up on individual and family goals.
- I will volunteer every last Saturday of the month at the children’s home or animal shelter.
FAQs
- What are the 5 health goals worth sticking to?
Five health goals worth sticking to are getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating healthy meals, managing stress, and having a supportive community around you.
- How do you set goals you will actually achieve?
The secret to setting goals you can achieve is to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. For example, I will do 10 pushups every morning to strengthen my core.
- What is the first step in the goal-setting process?
The first step to goal setting is to be specific about what you want to achieve. Knowing where you want to go is the only way to get there.
Final Thoughts
Pick one habit at a time and focus on it. Don’t try to change too many things in one go. Also, write down your progress in your journal to track your progress to keep you motivated. What are your health goals that you’re working to achieve? Drop them in the comments, and let’s review them together. Remember to include how you plan to improve your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Here are to a healthier you!
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