What are the Benefits of Setting Goals?

by | May 27, 2024

Do you feel like you are committed to making changes in your nutrition but are finding it difficult to stay consistent? Setting realistic and achievable goals as well as building a routine is crucial for staying consistent in your nutrition goals.

 

Having too many goals

Establishing goals can seem like a daunting task. Setting too big of objectives can leave you feeling overwhelmed, and you may think you need to tackle them all at once. A long list of goals may make you think that you are making all the changes you want to make quickly, however, it will most often lead to burnout faster.

 

Make your goals attainable

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your nutrition goals, you may want to consider setting smaller, realistic, and achievable goals. One way to do this is by setting SMART goals. A SMART goal is a goal that is attainable by making it specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Smaller, more specific objectives can lead to a higher sense of accomplishment, motivation, and confidence in your journey. A measurable goal gives you a baseline to see results and progress you have made. Goals that are personalized to you and relevant to your lifestyle is going to be so important in reaching these goals because, at the end of the day, it is no one else’s journey but yours so you should choose goals that work for you!

Lastly, creating a timeframe for your goals is also a good way to measure progress and see just how much you have succeeded in your journey. The lack of a timeframe can diminish motivation and drive in your goals because checkpoints along your nutrition journey are so important! For example, the goal of “I want to lose 100 pounds” is an honorable goal, however, it is an overwhelming goal that doesn’t leave room for the small wins along the way. Instead, try setting a goal of losing five pounds in the month of April by decreasing your daily calories by 200 and getting in a 15-minute walk 4 times per week. Again, you can tailor your SMART goal to fit your preferences and activities.

Creating a routine

Now that we have a template for setting a realistic goal, how do we ensure that we are setting ourselves up for success in achieving these goals? Creating a routine for yourself is going to be super helpful in your journey. Not having a routine will lead to inconsistency and a lack of motivation. A routine works the same way as a goal in the way that you want to change one thing at a time. Completely changing your lifestyle all at once to achieve a new routine will be stressful, so try changing or adding one thing to your routine at a time.

Your first change may be buying a planner and writing out your goals and schedule for each week. Making a plan will not only keep you focused on your goals, but it will keep you accountable for how you are going to get there.

For your next change, you may try eating your meals at roughly the same time every day. If you have this down, maybe consider meal prepping twice a week to create a routine for the foods you are eating at each meal. From there, you can continue to build new habits in your routine one by one, whatever you feel like will be most fitting for YOU!

And remember, reframing your mindset will be the biggest tool for finding success in your routine! Knowing that a goal takes time and being open to changes in your life that will not come easy will give you the power to achieve them. A good mindset about your routine and goals is the first step in your nutrition journey!

 

References:

Northwestern Medicine. (n.d.). Health benefits of having a routine. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/health-benefits-of-having-a-routine
Boogaard, K. (2024, February 6). How to write smart goals (with examples). Work Life by Atlassian. https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals#:~:text=What%20are%20SMART%20goals%3F,within%20a%20certain%20time%20frame.

Want to request an appointment? Click here!

Recent Posts

AZ Dietitians Guide to Aging Well

Sign Up to Receive Your FREE Guide To Aging Well!