Visualise Your Goals

It’s that time of year: the holiday parties, the delicious food, the over-indulgence? Sadly, the momentary over-indulgence could lead to something more – a weight gain. That’s why it is so important to have a plan now! Prepare yourself for the new year before it even gets here.

Set yourself up with a strategy on how to reach your goals successfully. Just use the “SMART” formula:
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Achievable
R: Realistic
T: Time-based

Here’s an example: you want to incorporate a regular fitness routine in to your life but you aren’t quite sure how to start or what to do. Maybe you have never exercised before. That’s OK! Take baby steps and start small, just one step at a time. Here’s how:

S: Specific
Instead of “I’m going to get in shape,” maybe you could say, “I am going to be able to walk a mile in 17 minutes by February 1, 2016.”

M: Measurable
Instead of “I’m going to walk regularly,” try something like “I am going to walk for 20 minutes at least three days a week.”

A: Achievable
If you are new to exercise, don’t expect to run a marathon on your first day, or even run at all. You may set yourself up for some disappointing results. Start with baby steps and build on them! Celebrate each victory, no matter how small.

R: Realistic
You can tell yourself, “I’m not going to miss a workout. Ever.” But in actuality, kids get sick, bosses call emergency meetings, and tires go flat. Instead, make yourself a promise you can keep, like: “Beginning January 2, 2016, I will go on the elliptical for 30 minutes, 5 days or more per week at my local gym. I will allow up to 2 days of rest per week.”

T: Time-based
Schedule your workouts as if they were important meetings and honor that commitment to your body. Set dates for when you want to accomplish your goal (i.e. “I am going to be able to walk a mile in 17 minutes by February 1, 2016”) and write it on your calendar. Seeing it visually will be a good reminder of your goals!

On that note, make your goals a reality with the help of a vision board. Collect pictures of your family and friends. Cut out images in magazines that speak to you. Find inspiration through quotes and other meaningful words. Then post it on a board. Get creative and have fun with it! Invite other family members and friends to join you with creating the board. They are there to support you from the beginning, and who knows, it may even inspire them to do the same!

Check out some of our inspirational images on Pinterest – see the pin on the top of the blog!

Once you have captured your goals through imagery, post it somewhere you can see it every single day.

Don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be finished. It can actually never be finished. Continue to add images and words to the board as your goals evolve. Enjoy the journey and create the life you wish to lead!

Feature courtesy of Take Shape For Life