Friday, May 8, 2015

When Your Health Goals Aren't Getting Met

Nearly everyone sets some goals for themselves, especially around the turn of the new year.  We call them resolutions, but they can also be called goals.  What were your health goals this year?  Are you on track with them, or are you still procrastinating and saying, "Yeah, I need to get to that..."  (Key in the guilt and irritation with yourself.)

Having broad general goals such as, "I'm going to lose 15 pounds this year," or "I'm going to exercise more," or "I'm going to eat better," all leave a large question mark sitting in the middle of your brain.  It is immobilized by the question.  Its question is HOW is it supposed to proceed with that instruction?  You may well be stuck in achieving your goal because, in the midst of all the other things your brain is handling, it is waiting more precise directions on how you want to get to that new place.

In his book, Skinny Habits, the first habit Bob Harper shares is how to write more precisely defined baby-step goals that leave less struggle for your brain to bear.  While it is a book aimed at helping people lose weight, the habit of creating (and following) your step-by-step plans can apply to virtually any life ambition.

The heart of these step-by-step subgoals is making If-Then statements which will disarm your excuses.  So, the very first step is having an honest talk with yourself about what the exact obstacles are to you staying on track with your goal.  List as many problems, reasons, excuses, and emotions as you can that keep you from doing what you already know you should be doing to get healthier.  Then, for each one of those write an If-Then statement that addresses how you will side-step that issue when it happens.  For example, "If I come home too tired to cook a nutritious meal, then I will have cut up veggies in my refrigerator and a healthy snack box."  Or, "If I find myself in front of a fast food menu, then I will order water and a salad."

Something almost magical happens when you have written down - or put your brain on notice - of how you want to contend with all the distractions and health hurdles in your way.  Instead of just going with the flow like you have been, you have committed yourself in writing to what you want to do instead.

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