Making Goals Stick

How many times have you set yourself a goal, only to give up weeks later? You're not alone; this is such a common occurrence, especially at this time of year when we start out with huge motivation only to struggle to maintain our new health lifestyle after a few days or weeks.

Here we take a look at some simple methods to help you stay on track this time.

Know your 'why'

When it comes to setting a goal, it's so important to be clear in your mind as to the reason you want to achieve the end goal. Ask yourself questions such as how will you feel when you hit your target? What will be different for you, and how will it improve your life? Answering these questions will add clarity to your goal setting process.

Start small

Some goals can seem like giant, insurmountable obstacles. But breaking down a big task into smaller chunks means you can slowly but surely chip away at the challenge. Set yourself short (1-4 weeks), medium (3-6 months) and long-term (12+ months) goals which are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound).

Reward yourself

If you're putting in hard work to achieve your goals, you deserve to reward yourself. Rewards should be in proportion to the achievement and shouldn't be detrimental to achieving your goal — new running shoes or gym wear work well, but avoid using food as a reward mechanism as this could send you off track.

Remind yourself

With busy lives it's easy to put your goal to the bottom of the priority list. Set regular alarms on your phone with motivational messages, or get your friends or family members to remind you.

Get your friends and family on board

Making them aware of what you're looking to achieve can help prevent any unintentionally negative peer pressure. If they know what you're striving for, they are more likely to rally around and help you reach your goal.

Be consistent

Being consistent with your health routine — exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress or emotional wellbeing — will help you achieve your goals and maintain good health long-term. Develop small, daily habits so they become the norm.

Accept that 'failure' is part of success

It's important to be consistent, but if you fall off the wagon, jump straight back on and don't dwell on the bump in the road. No health journey is a simple linear process. Focus on your successes, no matter how big or small, and remind yourself of your 'why'.