Think back to your goals from the Introduction section. Understanding how to make appropriate goals can make all the difference when it comes to setting yourself up for success.
You can do this by breaking your long-term goals down into smaller, more actionable goals. Saying, “I’d like to decrease my A1c” is an excellent long-term goal, but it doesn’t offer any actionable steps that can help make that goal a reality. The following chapters will provide education on the different lifestyle factors that can be adjusted to help reach that long-term goal.
Part of setting good goals is to formulate them with as much detail as possible. Leveraging SMART goals is an excellent way to go about this. SMART goals are:
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Specific - Think of what specific action items or steps you need to take.
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Measurable - This is a way to quantify your goals so you can easily track your progress.
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Achievable - You want your goal to be something you can realistically achieve at this moment in time. It’s amazing to have lofty, long-term goals, but to help build the confidence needed to achieve those long-term goals, it’s important to start with something that’s within reach.
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Relevant - Your SMART goal should be relevant to your overall objectives.
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Time-Based - Give yourself a deadline for when you would like to accomplish a specific task.
Some examples of SMART goals include, “I will do strength training two to three days per week for 30 minutes at a time over the next two weeks,” or “I will limit eating out to one day per week for the next month.” If you’d like more guidance setting great goals, reach out to your NutriSense nutritionist!
As you move through this self-led education series, keep the long-term goals that you’ve set for yourself in mind and consider how you can incorporate actionable SMART goals to help you work towards those long-term objectives.