Setting SMART goals can help us make small changes to improve our health at any life stage. SMART goals are especially valuable because they provide a step-by-step plan to reach our goal. They provide us with a sense of direction, motivation, and clear focus for actions to take.
A good goal is specific – think about a specific food group or activity, rather than generally eating healthier or being more active.
Measurable goals have a number attached to them, such as eating one extra cup of vegetables/day or walking for 10 minutes after dinner.
Goals that are attainable can be acted on and met with reasonable effort.
Goals should be relevant to what a participant wants to attain.
A time-bound goal has an end date (for example, after one week), after which the individual can evaluate their progress and set new goals.
An example of a healthy eating SMART Goal is:
Let’s break this down into a SMART goal:
Once you have reached your goal and it has become a routine, add another goal until you have achieved a balanced diet following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
It is not a matter of time as much as a matter of planning ahead so you can enjoy an unhurried dinner. If you have meats thawed and ingredients on hand, most things can be tossed together in about the same time as it takes to order and wait for the food at a restaurant. Slow cooking something in the oven or crock pot is a hand option for making tasty food with little food preparation time.
According to the NIH, engaging in social and productive activities that you enjoy may help to maintain your well-being and independence as you get older. Research has shown that an active lifestyle helps lower the risk of developing dementia, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. Being physically active helps you feel happier and less depressed, and possibly help improve mental abilities, especially if the activity uses the brain to recall words or steps, like singing or dancing.
