For many of us, improving our overall health is an ongoing goal, but it can often feel like a monumental challenge with no clear place to start. If you are looking to improve aspects of your health but are unsure of exactly how to get it done, S.M.A.R.T. goals are an ideal way to accomplish what you want when it comes to your health! If you want to learn more about S.M.A.R.T. goals and how they can help you with your health, just read on:
S - Specific
The “S” in S.M.A.R.T. goals stands for “Specific,” which means that you should be clear about what exactly you mean when you are setting your goals. For instance, “I want to be healthier” is not a very helpful goal, as it does not specify any particular course of action that will help to accomplish it. A much better starting point for a goal would be “I am going to exercise more often.”
M - Measurable
The “M” in S.M.A.R.T. goals stands for “Measurable,” which indicates that your goals should be structured in a way that allows you to clearly check whether you have accomplished it or not. This helps promote accountability and allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment when you meet your goals. Let’s stick with our exercise example from above: “I am going to exercise more often.” While this is a good start for a goal, it is not measurable. We could modify this goal to be something like: “I am going to exercise at least 4 days each week.” This way, you can clearly define your goal and see whether you are meeting it consistently.
A- Attainable
The “A” in S.M.A.R.T. goals stands for “Attainable”, which means that you should make sure your goals are realistic. If you set goals that are too lofty, you may feel discouraged when you are unable to meet them. It is best to try to find a happy medium between goals that are too easy and goals that are too challenging.
R - Relevant
While it may seem obvious, the “R” in S.M.A.R.T. goals is a reminder that your goals should always be relevant to what you are trying to accomplish. If you are looking to improve your fitness, watching fitness videos without implementing actual exercise goals will not help much. Your S.M.A.R.T. goals should always be structured around what you want to achieve!
T - Time-Based
The final aspect of S.M.A.R.T. goals is the “T,” which stands for “Time-Based.” It is extremely helpful to have a timetable on how long you expect your goal to take. Building off the exercise example we used earlier, you could say something like: “I am going to exercise at least 4 days each week for the next 6 months, at which point I will raise it to 5 days each week.” This goal sets specific objectives that are measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based, which gives you a great chance of success!
When you utilize S.M.A.R.T. goals for your health objectives, you’ll be able to both hold yourself accountable and celebrate your successes along the way. If you are looking for a partner along your health journey, our expert team here at Keystone Compounding Pharmacy is always here to support you. Reach out to our team today and find out more about how we can help with your health goals!
