We have all been there.
Something fired you up to set a goal for your health and well-being. Whether it was ringing in a new year, a life-changing milestone, or receiving a concerning prognosis, you wanted to make a change.
Initially, you were likely consistent with your goal, but over the weeks that followed, you continued to lose momentum until that goal became a faint memory. The most frustrating part is that this process repeats itself, and over time, you become increasingly hesitant to set goals when it feels like a perpetual recipe for failure.
So, how do we stop this pattern?
3 Critical Components of Sustainable Goal Setting:
- Understanding your “Why”
- Focusing on Autonomous vs. External Motivators
- Applying the SMART model
Your “Why”
It is the core of what motivates you to achieve and sustain the goals that you set for yourself. To connect with your “why”, you will want to dig deeply to discover what you want your health for and what matters most to you in life. Your answer will be unique, it is based on your life story—with all the rich experiences, passions, and relationships you have cultivated. Some examples might be: having the energy and stamina to keep up with your children or being pain-free so you can travel the world with your partner.
Behavior change isn’t based on willpower, it’s sourced from strong, meaningful motivators. Without a strong “Why“, it is difficult to stick to your goals and maintain momentum.
Autonomous vs. External Motivators
Autonomous Motivators align with your values, needs, and aspirations.
They enable you to connect a behavior to something you value in the future or to a desired identity— this is what stimulates long-lasting behavior change. An example could be wanting to take control of your brain health so you don’t lose a lifetime of cherished memories and forget your loved ones.
External Motivators come from another person’s needs and wishes, and are short-lived.
Somebody else telling you what to do and doing something based on another person’s needs and desires is not sustainable.
Transforming goals into SMART goals to set up for success
Be “SMART”:
Specific: Who, what, where, when, and why?
Measurable: How will you measure success?
Attainable: Actionable steps to reach your goal
Realistic: Is it something you can do?
Timeline: When will each step take place?
Let’s make it SMART:
Goal: “I want to add cardio exercise into my routine.”
Specific
“I will add cardio exercise into my routine by running for 30 minutes on my local beach every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8:00 am to enhance my cognitive functioning and feel stronger.”
Measurable
Able to compare how you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically before and after you walk.
Attainable
– Need proper running shoes and attire
– Block off calendar for runs from 8:00 – 8:30 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
– Begin running routine
Realistic
– I have the appropriate equipment (shoes and attire)
– I can block off my calendar on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings
– I can start my running routine
Timeline
Immediately : )
Ready to set your health goals in motion?
Schedule a Health Talk with one of our health coaches trained in behavior change and excited to be your accountability partner!
