Set Healthy Goals and Help Your Child Do the Same

 

For many of us, New Year's resolutions are easily made and easily broken. Whether it's to lose weight, save money, or adopt a healthier lifestyle, New Year's resolutions can be hard to keep. But, working toward these and other goals can improve your life. Setting realistic goals year round—and not just at New Year's—can lead to a healthier lifestyle, improved self-esteem, and increased confidence.

Children also can benefit from learning how to set and reach goals. It helps them learn how to manage their time and make good decisions—skills that can have a lasting and positive impact on their future.

The following tips can help you and your children successfully set and achieve your goals:

  1. Be specific. When thinking about your goal, be as exact as possible. People who set specific goals are more likely to succeed. For example, instead of saying that you want to save money, set a specific goal to save $20 (or whatever your goal amount is) per week.
  2. Put it in writing. Write down exactly what you want to achieve and post it in a place where you will see it every day. This will help remind you what you're working toward. When you write, use positive terms. For example, instead of writing, "I will stop eating junk food" re-word your goal in more positive terms: "I will make healthy food choices."
  3. Set realistic goals. When you think about setting goals, make sure that they are within your reach. Be mindful of your finances, schedule, and other personal affairs. Many people forget to think about these important factors and, as a result, they set unrealistic goals for themselves.
  4. Develop an action plan. Create a timeline with steps toward your goal. Set deadlines for each step and cross them off as you go. Sometimes just crossing things off and watching your list get smaller can give you a sense of accomplishment and help you to keep going.
  5. Believe in yourself. Stay positive about your progress. Share your goal with a friend and ask him to help keep your spirits up.
  6. Be flexible. Keep in mind that setbacks can happen. Don't get discouraged and give up. Your hard work will pay off!
  7. Reward yourself. Acknowledge your achievements, even the small ones. Reaching a goal takes hard work and you should be proud of your efforts.

 

The start of a New Year doesn't have to be the only time you decide to accomplish a goal. Having clear goals and something to aim for can bring your family together and help you lead healthier lives year round. Make this New Year count and follow through on your resolutions!

 Additional Resources for Goal Setting:

Additional Resources for Goal Setting:

 

This message is brought to you as part of the “Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies” educational campaign sponsored by Gage County Coalition PATCH/Healthy Lifestyles Task Force, Blue Valley Mental Health Center, Beatrice Community Hospital, and Gage County Safe Schools/Healthy Students.  Source information from SAMHSA. For further information and resources, contact Sharon Langvardt, MS, LCMFT, Blue Valley Mental Health Center, (402) 228-3386 or bluevalley@alltel.net

 

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