By Melinda Maryniuk, MEd, RD, CDCES
It’s time for New Year’s resolutions again, but most people make them with the best of intentions, but end up breaking them. Why? It’s usually because we set goals for ourselves that are not SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed). Learn how to make resolutions that are SMART for the healthiest New Year yet!.
Follow these five guidelines when you’re coming up with your resolutions…
Specific – What specific exercises will you do? Describe exactly the kinds of foods you will limit to eat less sugar.
Measurable – Instead of just resolving to exercise “more”, describe your goal in a way that can be measured, so you will know when it is accomplished.
Achievable – Set a goal that is reasonable and improves your odds of success. If your goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day, but your usual daily step count is closer to 2,500, aim for 4,000 steps a day as a starting goal. You can achieve that! Set yourself up for success with a goal that is realistic and reasonable.
Relevant – Make sure the goal seems worthwhile to you. You are more likely to achieve a goal that is relevant to things you actually care about.
Timed – Instead of thinking of your resolution as a permanent change, come up with a finite timeline for accomplishing it. Plan to do something for a few weeks – and then evaluate and modify the goal if necessary.
| Resolution | SMART GOAL |
| I will exercise more. | I will walk 5 days a week after dinner for at least 15 minutes for the month of January. |
| I will eat less sugar. | I will limit my ice cream to one cup, once a week over the next month. |
| I’ll eat healthier foods. | For the next month, I will try the plate method style of eating with ½ a plate of veggies 5 days a week. |
| I will quit smoking | I will call the health clinic next week to ask about enrolling in the smoking cessation program. |
In addition to creating SMART goals, consider these tips for setting successful resolutions:
- Set a daily intention – Begin each day by thinking of something small you will achieve that day. If you’ve got a list of things to do, do the hardest thing first to put it behind you.
- Keep track – Some people find it helpful to keep a record – paper or digital – to remind you of your goals and check off when you’ve accomplished them.
- Celebrate your success – When you accomplish your goal, take time to acknowledge it and really pat yourself on the back. Maybe even build in a small reward.
- Stay connected – Support from friends, family, and communities like this one help you succeed!
- Don’t limit your health goals to weight loss – Think about other goals that can improve your health: getting adequate sleep, adding more activities that bring you joy, meditating to reduce stress, and practicing mindfulness.
- Remember – it’s a continuous process! Since goals are designed to be small and achievable, don’t stop once you achieve your short-term goal. Evaluate your goal and set it again… you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in time!
To find a physician near you who specializes in weight management, click here.
To sign up for our free online class that covers the basics of how to reach a healthier weight, click here.
This article was sponsored by Novo Nordisk Canada. All content is created independently by My Weight – What To Know with no influence from Novo Nordisk.
