Hello Tribeca AYAM Family!
We hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits in the new year. This month, we’re zooming in on a skill that we often find ourselves helping patients with: setting goals. With these tools, you can learn to set goals for yourself and stick to those resolutions throughout the year!
The Value of Setting a Goal
Most people want to see some kind of change in their lives from time to time. Setting goals is an effective way to increase motivation and to help you to create the changes you want. It can be used to improve health and relationships, enhance productivity at work/school, and build new skills.
Whether your goals are big or small, the first step is to decide what they are. Start with the things you enjoy, as we are happiest when we use our strengths. Focus on what you want to do, not what you think you should do.
Breaking It Down the SMART Way
Setting a specific, measurable, and achievable goal (also known as a SMART goal) can help get you started and make a new goal feel less daunting. You can build on these goals as they become more routine.
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Specific. Be clear about what you are aiming for—your goals should include specifics such as ‘who, where, when, why and what’. For example, rather than “do more exercise,” your goal could be to “walk for 30 minutes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
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Measurable. Set goals that you can measure. Your goals should include a quantity of “how much” or “how many”: for example drinking 2 liters of water per day.
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Achievable. Set goals that you are able to do. Goals that are too difficult can be discouraging and could lead to you giving up. For example, instead of “mastering the piano in 6 months,” try “learning to play a complete song in 1 month.”
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Realistic. Set goals that are practical for you. Walking an hour a day might be difficult if you don’t get home from work/school until 8pm every day.
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Time-related. Set a timeframe and have an endpoint. Deadlines can motivate your efforts and prioritize the task. Remember, though, to give yourself a realistic timeframe to accomplish your goal!
It can take 4-6 weeks for a goal to become a habit, so working on consistency rather than speed is important when it comes to changing behaviors and creating new routines.
Don’t forget, Tribeca AYAM offers specialized health consultations where we can help you plan, set, and maintain your health goals.
Thank you for being a part of the Tribeca AYAM family. Stay healthy!
Happy New Year!
The Tribeca AYAM Team