Clayton Kale

Wed, 12/05/2018 - 07:00

Ask successful people their key to accomplishments and they will tell you that success is almost impossible without a plan. Whether your goal is to lose weight, exercise more or reduce stress, you will never know how to begin achieving that goal without the right plan.

Planning for a healthy lifestyle is as important as planning for other significant goals in your life. Seeking a work promotion? Preparing to buy a house? Everything worth something requires a plan and dedication, but rest assured—you have the ability to achieve anything you set your mind to!

What Does a Healthy Living Plan Look Like?

You can set yourself up for long-term success by considering the following:

  • Set a goal for yourself. Goals can be ever-changing, but they should always be S.M.A.R.T. That is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and have a Time frame.
  • Remind yourself daily of your goal. Share your goal with others to help keep yourself accountable, or write down your goal where you will see it. 
  • Put your goal into action. Work your goal into everyday life. Perhaps this means scheduling an appointment with yourself to exercise. Or it could be a day set aside for meal prep to ensure that you have access to healthy options even when you're busy. 
  • Gather support. Include your family and close friends in your journey. Let them know your intention and how much it means to have their support in achieving your goal. 
  • Continue to challenge yourself. Switch things up. Keep seeking new challenges to avoid becoming stuck in a rut. Have you been walking 20 minutes a day for a month? Increase the duration to 30 minutes. Go to a new exercise class or try a new healthy recipe. 
  • Look to the future, but remind yourself of the past. Do not let the past hold you back from following through with your goal. Use it as a reminder of how far you have come. 
  • Embrace the new you. Enjoy the experiences, tastes, challenges, and successes that come with beginning to live a healthy lifestyle. Make note of both the physical and emotional changes that occur from making healthy choices. 

This post was originally published in the Exercise is Medicine Greenville Patient Notebook