Win

As we begin the next Gregorian year, many minds turn towards new beginnings and new opportunities. Traditionally people set New Year’s Resolutions in the hope of improving their lives from the previous year.

Setting goals to reach your full health potential is admirable, and good. The world jokes about how New Year’s Resolutions are so quickly and easily broken. I’m sure I see more cyclists on Fernleigh Track in January than I do during the year.

Why don’t your New Year’s Resolutions always last beyond February?

The answer is appropriate goal setting and accountability. In February life will get back into full swing again, and the goals you earnestly want to achieve become less important than meeting deadlines and getting the kids to sports practice on time (Bjerke & Renger, 2017).

We always say that it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to be our best selves too (“Physical activity – setting yourself goals – Better Health Channel,” 2020).

Whatever your goal, is it specific? Do you know exactly what it is you want to achieve? So instead of saying I want to walk every day, say I want to walk 35km per week for 3 weeks.

Is this goal measurable? How will you know that you have walked 35 km? If you skip a day, can you add in a few extra km each other day to make up for it? There are apps on your phone and devices you can use to track these steps. The key here is to measure what you are doing, so that you have accountability for your choices.

Is the goal you set achievable? If you set the goal too high you will become disheartened, if you set it too low you will not achieve the underlying reason for setting the goal.

Was your goal realistic? Is 5km, or 10,000 steps per day a goal that you can achieve in your time available every day? You will have to make decisions to make this goal realistic. You cannot turn on a movie when you get home from work if you decided to walk after work every day, conversely you cannot hit snooze 3 times on your alarm if you planned to walk before work. Don’t set the goal for times and places you know you cannot realistically keep.

Do you have a long-term goal you are working towards? Knowing how long and for what reason you set this goal helps to maintain motivation. Needing to be fit by a set date, or have an occasion you are working towards helps keep you focused on achieving your goal.

(MacLeod, 2012)

FlashBack Health uses the tried and tested science of Western Herbal Medicine to help it’s clients reach their goals and full health potential. FlashBack Health operates out of Thrive Wellness Hub, where there are a team of other modalities waiting in the wings when additional help is required. In addition to Herbalists Thrive has a Nutritionist on staff to help you plan your best diet plan.

Thrive has a team of Psychologists, Trauma Counsellors Social Workers and Resource Therapists passionate about walking beside you as you become your best self.

Is pain stopping you from achieving your goals? Thrive has Chiropractors, Remedial Massage Therapists and Bowen Therapists that apply evidence-based practice to help you feel your best.

Thrive is the Village you need to help you achieve your goals this year.

FlashBack Health

Reference List

Bjerke, M. B., & Renger, R. (2017). Being smart about writing SMART objectives. Evaluation and Program Planning, 61, 125-127. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2016.12.009

MacLeod, L. (2012). Making SMART goals smarter. Physician executive, 38(2), 68-72.

Physical activity – setting yourself goals – Better Health Channel. (2020).

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