Oh Well!
FITNESS
The Festive Five
Goal-setting tips to help you stay strong through the holidays and beyond. 1. Be SMART about your goals. That’s Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-based. Think of a goal as a destination on a map; you won’t get there in an instant. Come up with a clear path, leaving room for a few stops on the way. 2. Set Benchmarks. Big goals can be intimidating and discouraging when you don’t see results. Benchmarks break down larger goals into more manageable steps. Don’t forget to celebrate small accomplishments along the way to help support you emotionally and boost your morale. 3. Write your goal down (in pen) and share it! According to research by the Dominican University of Cali-
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5. Don’t be so hard on yourself. We often put a great deal of pressure on ourselves, which frequently results in disappointment when we fall short. But what we aren’t seeing in those moments is how far we’ve come. Maybe we dropped a clothes size, made a new friend, or developed a healthier habit. Your goals always lead to some4. Be Prepared. You wouldn’t start thing more profound than the a road trip without gas or a spare tire. actual numbers. Remember: you You’ll need to identify the roadblocks you may encounter on your road, such are doing this for you! as holidays, special events, or finding Jessica Porritt is the Family time in your schedule. Then, arm Center Operations Director at Roper yourself with ways to overcome them. YMCA. She is a proud dog mom of a 14-lb chiweenie named Ranger. When she’s not helping Misses and mistakes will happen; people achieve their goals, she’s at the beach, hiking, or what matters is how you take them. traveling. fornia, people who wrote down and shared their goals were 33% more successful than those who didn’t. Mark it on your calendar, set it as the background on your phone, or even write it on your bathroom mirror. Then, tell your support system! Let them provide the accountability you need through good times and bad.
