Establishing a New Routine for a Healthier You:

Make an Appointment with Yourself

Time management is one of the most difficult things to do in everyday life. Making time for yourself is very important for mental health and physical health. Make an appointment WITH YOURSELF, whether for exercising, eating, or focusing mentally. Write it down in your calendar, it may sound silly, but if you write it down, you’ll be more inclined to follow through with making the time for yourself.

Set boundaries and hold yourself accountable. Sticking to boundaries is a great way to establish a new routine. Boundaries come in many forms: limit your screen time (times on your phone, computer, TV, etc.), allow time for eating meals, and schedule your exercise time. Make yourself a priority so that you can accomplish your goals.

“The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.”  — Dianna Von Furstenberg

What Do Healthy Goals Look Like?

Healthy goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding, and Time-bound.

• Specific goals address the what, why and how.
• Measurable goals are concrete and observable.
• Attainable goals are usually small goals that are under the control of the client, they do not depend on another person.
• Rewarding goals are stated positively.
• Time-bound goals put an end point on a goal and give a clear target.

If your goal is to increase your vegetable intake, a SMART goal would be to eat 2 servings of vegetables for lunch and dinner every day. Healthy goals come in many forms and can be unique to yourself. You can define healthy goals in any sort of way, ensure that your goals are SMART!

Things You Can Do to Be Successful in Goal Crushing

A food journal

Journaling your foods and placing an inventory on yourself is the easiest way to be successful in crushing your goals. Being prepared with having healthy foods in your house, or in your purse when you’re on the go, so that you have many options to choose from, and you stick to your healthy, SMART goals.

Stock healthy foods and snacks

Have go-to healthy foods that are on hand when cravings hit, this will ensure that you are staying on track and satisfying those moments when cravings hit, because cravings are normal and happen to everyone.

Be kind to yourself

Give yourself some words of affirmation. You always need to be self-encouraging and self-motivating; this will help you achieve your goals exponentially. Many people think you have to eat perfectly to meet your goals — striving for 80% healthy, nourishing foods and 20% discretionary foods is great. Eat healthy and have your favorite dessert!

Photos courtesy Pixabay.com

Cailey Estridge is a senior Nutrition and Dietetics student at Appalachian State University, GO ‘NEERS! An avid hiker, movie buff, and dog petter, she knows how hard it is to cook good meals as a broke college kid. Nutrition is unique, just like your DNA. Do what works best for you, not what works best for everyone else.

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