As the end of another year approaches, and a new year awaits, it is best to take the time to evaluate the year that has been – what have we done wrong, and what steps can we do to make things better.  For the year 2011, let us all resolve to live healthy.

I am sharing with you 8 simple steps to help you realize your health goals in 2011.

1) Write your health goals on paper

Like a contract, anything that is written becomes binding and obligatory.  This is a statement of how serious and committed you are in achieving your health goals.  Once you start to put your goals down on paper, it becomes much easier for you to remind yourself of what you are trying to accomplish – it spares you from mentally remembering what you set out to do. Write your health goals on a big piece of clean paper, make copies, and place it around you – tape it onto your bathroom mirror, tack one up at your door, put one on top of your bedside table, insert a copy in your notebook.  This way, you will be encouraged and motivated to constantly think about your health goals and be forced to act on them.

With so many things to do, and so many health goals that you may want to achieve, it easy for your mind to wander.  In the long run, not writing your goals will cause you to forget your goals.  Take time out to sit down and really think about what is important to you – and then write it down.  The 15 minutes it took you to write down your goals could mean the difference between goals met and goals forgotten.

2) Be specific about your health goals

Being specific allows your mind to focus on what is important, and eventually, you will see that it will also give you a clearer sense of direction. Saying “I will lose weight” is vague – it is not specific, measurable and time-bounded.  Instead, tell yourself (and remember to write it down!), “By February 28, 2011, I would have lost 20 lbs of weight.”  Opposite this, write down how you are going to do it:  “I will spend 6am to 7am of each day jogging around the park.”

Keep in mind that a goal that is specific is a goal that has been well-thought of. You know in your heart that this, specifically, is what you want, and as they say, when you know exactly what you want – and how you are going to get it – the universe conspires to help you reach your goal. Remember this: the mind thinks well when it knows what it is doing.

3) Surround yourself with it

The mind thinks in pictures, so you might as well make sure that yours are in high definition colour.  Cut out clear, crisp pictures from coloured magazines and surround yourself with it.  If you want to lose weight, look for a picture of a person with your ideal body type.  If you want to start living healthy so you can witness your grandchildren turn into beautiful adults, hang their pictures on your wall.  Another idea would be to place pictures inside an album and call it your “2011 Health Goals Album”.  Browse through it day in and day out – just to remind yourself of what awaits you if you stick to your goals.

One other suggestion is to equip yourself with index cards and write down your health goals on it.  Place it inside your purse, or your wallet, and look at it many times throughout the day.  This will serve as a constant reminder for you to work your way towards achieving the health of your dreams.

4) Set hard-to-reach health goals

Ever heard someone say, “Reach for the moon because when you fail, you’ll land among the stars”? This is very true when it comes to setting your own health goals.  Challenge yourself by setting hard-to-reach health goals.  This way, you will constantly motivate yourself to go the extra mile, and to push yourself further, knowing that you can do even better.  Some people would tell you to start in mincing steps, but there is nothing wrong in dreaming big.  So go ahead, write down those health goals that you think are so hard-to-reach, and then set out to achieve it.  There is nothing more special than being able to do things that other people believe you cannot do. Ultimately, setting hard-to-reach goals will prove beneficial for you because you defied limits and you allowed yourself to go all out in order to achieve a healthier you.

5) Act "As If"

After dreaming big, it will immensely help if you act bigger – because there is a big difference between simply thinking out your goals and actually practicing it. Act as if you have already reached your health goals.  Acting out will motivate and encourage you to commit 100 percent and this will help condition your brain for better things. Eventually, you will notice that the more you act “as if”, the more the action comes naturally to you.

6) Believe

The mind is powerful, and what you think, you become.  The top requirement to ensure success in your every endeavour is belief – believe that you can achieve your health goals no matter how difficult they seem, believe that anything is possible even if people says otherwise, believe that you can do it even if other people think you cannot.

7) Planning Is Priceless

Planning will save you time and effort.  A good plan means you won’t have to rely on luck to bring you good results.  Sadly, some people would opt to complain about how difficult it is to prepare a healthy meal, or how hard it is to fit workout time in one’s busy schedule.  Instead of whining and thinking about the difficult part, why not plan ahead of time? Be sure to plan earlier, whether it's for tomorrow's meal schedule or workout time. There is always a way for someone who wants something so bad. And for those who are on it half-heartedly? Well, there exists an endless supply of excuses.

8) Reward Yourself

Do not be too hard on yourself.  After a good week or two, reward yourself with something that makes you feel good.  If, for example, you managed to go for a week without smoking, buy yourself that beautiful pair of shoes you have wanted for so long. If you lost more weight than what is written on your health goals list, get yourself a new outfit that’s one size smaller.  Do not feel guilty about splurging sometimes.  After all, you have earned the right to do it.

Sources
dragosroua.com
fitzvillafuerte.com