Do you have the goal of improving your diet this year? You’re not alone; millions of other people will also choose creating better eating habits as their primary resolution.
No doubt you’ve also seen the statistics regarding setting and accomplishing resolutions. According to some surveys, as many as 92% of people who set goals at the start of a new year will not achieve them. And of those, half won’t make it through the first month!
The desire to improve and develop is a universal need, so why so much failure? Having a focused plan is the key and implementing the five tips in this article will help you create one that can increase your chances of being successful.
Define Your Goal
To achieve clarity about your target, make sure it’s attainable, measurable and has a dead-line. Just saying, “I’m going to lose weight this year,” is too vague and leaves a hole that every one of your excuses can easily climb through. “I’ll lose one pound each week for the next three months” is much clearer.
Don’t Over-Promise
The feeling of accomplishment that comes from achieving one or two high-return resolutions can be ruined by being included in a list of ten, where the other eight aren’t achieved. Define no more than three goals to begin. Want more? Knock off the first group and then start the process with the next set of goals.
Incremental Achievement
You might decide to set a goal of eating 5 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day, but you’re the kind of person who jumps out of bed each morning and is off to work without so much as a quick shower and a piece of toast. Setting a pace that is attainable, like making a fruit smoothie each weekday morning, allows you the space to create reasonable habits. When that routine is established, add another meal, another day, another week, incremental working toward your goal. Plan the steps to your goal to include multiple milestones.
Accountability
Put it out there. Tell someone about your resolutions, someone that you can trust to support you and keep you accountable. Perhaps make a commitment to shop and prepare healthy meals together. In his program, Precision Nutrition, Dr. John Berardi, suggests you prepare a number of meals at the same time. Why not make this a routine that you and your partner in goal-achievement can share?
Stay Focused
Keep a note, picture, or some other reminder in sight to make sure your goal stays top of mind. If your goals involve weight-loss and/or improving your eating behaviors, then invest in a program like Dr. Berardi’s, keep a journal or put together a support group. Anything that keeps you focused on the importance of what your striving for is good.
The feeling of success is addictive. What better way then, than to celebrate every one, regardless of how small? Do something nice for yourself as you reach each milestone. And enjoy the feeling of achievement as you accomplish them all!
