Spring Into Action: Strategies to Help You Achieve Your Wellness Goals

As we transition into springtime and prepare for the summer months, you may be considering making a healthy lifestyle change. We all have certain aspects of our lives with room for improvement. Whether your wellness goals target exercise, nutrition, sleep or stress management, these strategies can help you prepare, act and achieve those goals.

Prepare:

• Identify your long-term goal. Break up your long-term goal into multiple short-term goals to act as stepping stones. Avoid taking on too much change at once by focusing on one short-term goal at a time.
• Craft your short-term goals as SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.
• Create a plan. Determine when, where and how you plan to achieve your SMART goal.
• Identify barriers. What obstacles might prevent you from reaching your goals? Whether that be too little time, energy or motivation, learn your barriers and make a plan to work around them.
• Find an accountability buddy. Everything is more fun when you do it with a friend. You and your buddy can help each other stay on track and reach your wellness goals.

Act:

• Once you have taken the time to prepare – take action! This is the most important step. You have done the preparation, now it’s time to get started.
• Track goal progress. Track your food intake, sleeping hours, exercise, etc. to measure your goal progress.
• Check in with your accountability buddy.

Maintain:

• Switch it up. Whether this is trying out a new meal or exercise plan, keep things interesting by switching up that routine.
• Revisit your long-term goals and set new short-term goals. Continue to set new goals as you progress to renew your motivation.
• Reward yourself. Celebrate your wins and reward yourself as you reach your goals.
• Avoid the “all or nothing” mindset. Expect to experience setbacks when making a healthy lifestyle change. If you have a few days or weeks where you do not reach your goals, give yourself some grace and get back to it.

Consider trying out some of these strategies to help you achieve your goals. Long-term change is tough, but it is worth it. Now, go and rock your wellness goals this spring!

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By Taylor Johanning, LiveNOW Health and Wellness Coach