Habits: Your Key to Success!

Published by HealthSource Solutions on

Smart Goals

The above awareness handout is from our  Healthier Living Newsletter Subscription.

Goals and habits go hand-in-hand. GOAL SETTING is a tool to think about your ideal future, choose where you want to go in life, and help clarify your purpose. HABITS are the daily activities and discipline to achieve those goals. When it comes to your health goals, habits are the key to success!

Goal Setting

When you are clear about what you want, it becomes much more attainable. By setting clearly defined goals, you can measure your progress and take pride in your accomplishments
along the way. If you don’t know where to start, start small. What do you want to get done tomorrow, in the next month, or in the next year? Once you become more comfortable and confident, you can adjust your goals to fit a larger scale. Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments along the way!

Habit Stacking

If you want to adopt a new healthy habit, experts say to tie it to an existing habit. For most people, our morning routine is our strongest habit and an easy time to stack on a new healthy habit. However, there are other routines and cues throughout your day that you can attach a new habit to. First, identify habits you do daily, then pick one to add a new habit to. Keep it small. Begin with one simple habit. Once you are successful with the new habit (30 days or more), stack on another new habit.

  • Waiting for your coffee to brew, meditate or deep breathe.
  • Brushing your teeth, balance on one leg, or do squats.
  • After dinner, spend 15 minutes tidying up the house and prepping for the next day (make a healthy lunch, set out clothes, review your schedule).
  • Starting your car, turn on a self-help audiobook or podcast.
  • When you get a text message, stand up and do a stretch or two.

SMART Goals

SPECIFIC
Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specific goals help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

MEASURABLE
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates and experience success.

ACHIEVABLE
Identify goals that you are able to complete.

REALISTIC
Set your goal to be something that is practical for you.

TIME SENSITIVE
Set a goal that has a specific end date that gives you a clear target to work towards. Without a time limit, there is no urgency to start taking action

Smart Goals

more than a newsletter

Subscribe to the annual Healthier Living Newsletter and each month receive a colorful, easy-to-print or email, 2-page newsletter that covers a wide range of health and wellness topics. PLUS you will receive a monthly health awareness topic presented in a handout and PowerPoint slide deck (3 to 5 slides).

Newsletter Image