It’s that time of year when we reflect on our goals for the year ahead. Many of us resolve to eat healthier. If that’s one of your goals, I’m here to help. But I’m not going to call them “New Year’s” resolutions, because my tips will help you stick with your healthy eating goals ALL YEAR, not just at the New Year. Check out my 7 Simple Steps to Sticking with Your 2024 Goals.
Tell me about your 2024 goals in this short survey. CLICK HERE!
- Start with a simple action. For example, “I will eat leafy greens every day.” The shorter, simpler and more straightforward the better. This helps make it memorable. And don’t worry if it doesn’t include overhauling your WHOLE diet. Start with one action. You can always add another action after this one becomes effortless.
- Write it down. By doing this, you are making your promise more concrete. Use “I” language. For example, “I will eat leafy greens every day.”
- Why is it important to you? While you’re writing, jot down 1-3 reasons it’s important to you to take this action. For example, “better memory,” “stay sharp for my family,” or “reduce stress.”
- How will you do it? Think about simple, convenient ways you can take action that work for you. For example, “I will pick up a 1-pound package of pre-washed leafy greens every time I go grocery shopping,” or “I will order a leafy green salad every time I eat out,” or “I will set up time with a dietitian for hands-on help with this.” Write this down, too.
- Get started. Take action! You’ve got your target action, your promise to yourself, why it’s important to you, and how you’ll do it. Time to get started 🙂
- Build in accountability. Now that you’ve made a promise to yourself, what will make it easier to stick to it? The answer is reflection and accountability, both of which keep your target action top of mind so that you’re more likely to stick to it. For example, you could set calendar reminders, keep track in a daily food journal, share your progress to a text message thread, or share on social media. Check in now and then to assess your overall progress; perhaps weekly or monthly. This is a great time to also go back and look at what you wrote down for your target action, why it’s important to you, and how you’ll do it. You might even add some thoughts and new ideas here as time goes by.
- Give yourself grace. Change, by definition, will take effort. Whether this is a new action or just a more frequent action you’re taking, give yourself some grace if you’re not 100% perfect. Just pick up where you left off, and make the next choice a healthy choice.
Tell me about your 2024 goals in this short survey. CLICK HERE!
