As we find ourselves at the start of another new year, many people are experiencing a renewed sense of motivation. It’s all about doing more and being better. However, that determination is easily replaced with distractions or excuses. It happens to the best of us. That’s why it’s so important to have someone like Katie Ozimek, Omnia’s Functional Health Coach, to help create a roadmap for making your goals actionable.
Goals That Win The Popularity Contest
Before we talk about how to achieve your goals, let’s identify the most common health concerns we see among patients at Omnia Health. Of all the improvements people are looking to make when it comes to their wellbeing and lifestyle habits, these are the top ones from our experience:
- Weight Loss
- Exercise Routine
- Sleep Quality
- Stress Relief
Setting your intention is one thing. Making the long-term commitment to actually see results is where things get tough. This is where having a Functional Health Coach comes into play. Walking through your goals, we are able to assign feelings to each one in a way that allows your motivation to become more tangible. For instance, how will losing weight help to change your overall attitude about your self image. Not so much from a vanity perspective but rather, from a place of having more energy, a positive outlook and overall confidence. These feelings serve as a reminder for why we made the resolution in the first place.
Studies show that of all Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, only 9 percent are successful in keeping them.
Source: inc.com
The “why” serves as the foundation for identifying actionable steps toward achieving your goals. In addition to being actionable, you want your goals to be realistic and maintainable. If your expectations are too high, you will inevitably set yourself up for failure. It is better to feel good about small, consistent achievements than to continuously fall short of large, lofty aspirations. For example, you are much more likely to eat a healthy breakfast every day than to eliminate all carbohydrates from your diet.
When helping patients outline their path to achieving long-term health and success, I always recommend using the following as a goal checklist:
- Write down your goals in a place you will see them daily
- Be specific with your intentions
- Determine how you will measure your success
- Integrate small and consistent milestones
- Add an element of fun or some type of reward system
- Incorporate accountability into the equation
- Give yourself grace without giving up
This last point is a biggie. We are all human, which means we make mistakes, have mood swings and lose sight of priorities from time to time. Those mistakes are not meant to be moments of self-criticism and harsh judgment but rather, opportunities to learn and grow from our mistakes. Every day is a chance to start fresh.
The Accountability Factor
Those who choose to keep their goals to themselves are lacking a true commitment. Individuals who truly hold themselves accountable are willing to share their intentions with others. In this way, you are communicating that the goal is a priority and not simply something that may or may not get done. This is just the first step.
So go ahead, announce your plan to a family member, friend or colleague. Start tracking your progress in a journal or one of many goal-oriented apps. The main thing is to remain consistent. When you do something over and over again, that’s when it tends to stick.
It is also a great idea to work with a Functional Health Coach like Katie. Having regular appointments allows for consistent check-ins and timelines to ensure you are continuously making progress. A good coach is there to provide ongoing support, encouragement and guidance to ensure your odds of success are always at their highest.
Healthy And Happy Is Within Reach
With the right amount of grit and humility, you are capable of achieving your goals. However, when it comes to making lifestyle modifications, it helps to have the Omnia Health team on your side. Our decades of experience and immeasurable amount of passion allows us to help our patients live healthier, happier lives.
Contact us today and immediately see the difference between mainstream healthcare and functional medicine.
