Written by Carrie Company

If you are serious about setting goals, make them SMART. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, accountable, realistic and timely.

Let’s set just one goal for a healthier self. People are always looking for a quick fix, but when a quick fix lacks direction and an understanding of “why”, it is quickly broken.

Most people know what they should be doing for better health but doing it gets difficult. People become overwhelmed, don’t know where to start, lack accountability, or just aren’t interested. Making healthier choices is a life-long journey. It is okay to take a break and sit down for a bit IF eventually you stand back up and keep moving forward!

So, where do you start? Let’s start with looking at biometric data. If you don’t have any you can order an Engage 180 health risk assessment and get your biometric data. Do you have a particular risk factor that concerns you? Is weight an issue? Is there a theme within the factors? For example, getting active, eating less sugar/processed foods? What appeals to you in terms of improving your overall health?

Pick just ONE thing to begin working on. Now let’s make it SMART!

• • Be as Specific as possible when answering, “What is your goal?” I want to eat more servings of fruits & vegetables per day. Or, I want to eat less fast food. I want to get to work out regularly. I want to drink less soda per day.
  • Establish concrete criteria for Measuring progress for your goal. My goal is to eat 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables 5/7 days of the week. Or, I will only eat fast food one time per week. I will go to the Wellness Center at 6:00 a.m. three days in the next week.
  • SMART goals make us Accountable. You have more success accomplishing your goals if you find an accountability partner. Voice your goals to your family and friends as a means of increasing your personal accountability. “I am going to eat more fruits and vegetables because I want to improve my health.” “I want to do yoga twice a week to improve my health and decrease my overall stress.”
  • A goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. You are the expert in your life’s logistics, so make sure that your goal is Realistic given your responsibilities. With a new baby in the house that is still learning to sleep, early morning workouts may be out of the question.
  • And finally, your goal should be grounded within a Time frame. For example, “For the next month, I will take one hour for myself every night to turn off my work phone and computer. During this time, I will do something for me, read a book, spend time with family, or do something physically active around the house.”

The Challenge: Start off right with one SMART health goal related to your health risks.
What is your SMART goal? Think about it? Write it down? Share your goal? Believe in the power you have to accomplish your SMART goal!