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Did you travel over the holidays? If you're like many Californians,
you joined the masses in the air or on land to visit family and
friends over the holidays.
As a kid, I remembered many family trips during the holidays. Being
members of Michigan's Automobile Association (AAA), my dad would
bring home the "Trip Tik", a map that divided up the route
into flip-pages with your route all highlighted for you.
Now imagine this: on the first day of your vacation, would you get
into your car and start driving without knowing where you were going?
Since most people do not live nomadic lifestyles with the luxury
of wandering wherever the wind blows,it seems ludicrous to travel
somewhere with no destination in mind.
Yet this is exactly what many people do when they avoid setting
fitness goals. And what is more important than the journey of life?
At the beginning of a new year, I like to ask patients if they have
any fitness goals set for their health--exercise, weight, nutrition,
stress management, quit smoking, etc. Many will say they "don't
do goals" because it just sets them up for failure.
But is that the fault of making goals? Of course not. This would
be like getting in the car with a destination in mind, but not using
any kind of map or Trip Tik to guide you along the way!
Just like preparing for your holiday travel, setting goals requires
you to choose a destination and then make a plan to reach that destination.
Using the analogy of taking a trip, here are the steps for planning
and reaching your 2001 goals:
1. Get motivated! Believe you can change, that you need to change.
Do it for yourself. Write down why you are choosing this goal for
2001. Use online help such as www.hiaspire.com/newyear to stay motivated.
2. Pick a realistic, specific and measurable destination. Instead
of saying, "I want to lose weight.", say, "I want
to lower my body fat to 22%." This will help let you know if
you're on track. And if you've been overwhelmed by having too many
goals, make only a few for 2001.
3. Plan your trip. Break down your destination into smaller, short-term
goals that lead you towards your ultimate big goal so you don't
get discouraged from the long distance of the trip.
Allow appropriate professionals to help you in your planning.
4. Drive! Start working your plan. Check in with others. Keep a
journal. Attend weekly or monthly classes to help keep you on track.
6. Accept responsibility for your journey. Setbacks, roadblocks,
and detours will happen. That's life! Instead of blaming others
and situations which will almost certainly get you off track, remind
yourself that while you may not be responsible for the setback,
you are the driver. Responding to these setbacks is your responsibility.
The Health Education Department offers a variety of services to
meet your needs and help you stay on track. Inquire about our individual
appointments and group sessions or check them out online
If you're "too busy" to attend in person but still need
motivational support, you can utilize e-mail and/or telephone calls
to stay in touch with the Health Education Department. After all,
if you're getting off track or taking a detour, it's much easier
to get back on track early. Don’t wait until you’re “hundreds
of miles" off course or worse yet, abandoned your trip altogether.
Hopefully, by following these steps for making and keeping your
fitness goal, you can look back on 2001 with a sense of accomplishment
by reaching your destination.
On life's journey, if you don't set your own destination, you'll
most likely be traveling towards someone else's destination, whether
you know it or not.
If it's a health-related or lifestyle-related destination or goal
you'd like to make, let your Health Education Department help you
with the planning and traveling.
If exercising and getting in shape is one of your 2001 destinations,
enter "The Quest" which
starts on Feb. 1, 2001.
So why not take some time today and choose where YOU want to end
up in 2001? Choose the destination, plan the work, then work the
plan!
Bon voyage in 2001!
If you need more individual help starting or keeping on an exercise
program, enroll in Dr. Medina's Total Wellness
Program. Contact the Health Education Department by calling
335-4131. You can even register for our classes online!
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