SMALL STEPS FOR A LONG JOURNEY
Setting goals is a task many people find intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be.
I’m going to give you my own version of breaking down a main goal into a lot of smaller
goals that seem more attainable than just going after something huge all at once. First,
here’s the basic breakdown, and then I’ll go into detail for each step.
1. Research your goal. Find out everything you can about it and what it takes to get there.
2. Make a list of the things you’ll need to know to achieve your goal.
3. Make a tentative plan for the first step.
4. Assess how well the plan’s working and adjust it if you need it. This step should be
repeated periodically.
5. Keep track of your progress in a way that makes sense to you.
6. Don’t give yourself a hard time. Use rewards if that’s something that works for you.
This particular step is actually one that you can spread throughout the others.
All right, for explaining these, I’ll use losing weight as an example. Step one says to
research your goal. So–since I’d like to lose about twenty pounds, I look for information on
healthy habits and losing weight. I find out a fair amount of stuff on the subject, and decide
that a fad diet isn’t going to be very good. After all–why lose wieght and not be able to keep
it off? Developing healthy habits makes more sense to me, because then I might actually keep
the weight away. One of the things I learn is how many calories I should be eating a day,
and that excercise is a key point. That leads neatly into step two.
I write down what I’ve learned and organize it into a list of things I need to keep track
of. This list goes right by my computer, partly so that I don’t lose it and partly so I can
keep track of the information. I need to consume no fewer than 1200 calories a day, and no more
than 1550. Carbs and fats are not my friends. I need to excercise regularly. That’s a simple,
short step to finish with. I’ll also make a list of unhealthy habits I have–like frequently
having a couple of candy bars for lunch. After I’ve checked to make sure I’ve got all the facts written down,
I move on to step three.
Here’s where it starts to get fun. I don’t need to lose weight fast. And, I’ve already
decided that the best way to keep it off is to develope some good, healthy habits. So, I decide
I’m going to try and lose just one pound a week, and add in another habit or two every week as
well. I’ll start out by making a written plan toward those goals. To start with, I’m going to
try and eat something unprocessed (raw veggies or fruits) and take a walk daily. For every one
of my bad habits, I try to think of a healthy alternative. I know myself well enough to realize
that I’m not going to stick to a plan that denies me all the sinfully delicious things I adore,
nor one where I try to move too quickly. That’s another reason for going with a pound and two
healthy habits a week. You might be able to go for more pounds or habits. I’m also going to
weigh myself, at the beginning of actually starting my weight loss plan, and at least once a
week until I’ve reached my goal.
Steps four, five, and six begin to happen in a couple of weeks. They can be done in
conjunction with each other, and should be. Focus on Step four, but keep the others in mind,
basically. I go over my lists and weights and see how well I’m doing. If I’m not doing well….
I refer to step six. I don’t beat myself up over it. I just try a little harder. Maybe I need
more time to get into the habits that I hope will lead me to a lower weight. All right, so I
re-do my plan and try for losing a pound every two weeks. Or perhaps I’m doing really well. I
can either up my pounds lost to two, or add another good habit. Obviously, if I’m not doing
well, I don’t get to reward myself. But if I am–maybe I’ll indulge myself with a slice of
that to-die-for chocolate cake at my favorite restaurant. Yes, it’ll add extra calories to
my daily quota, but once in a while won’t hurt me.
It’s very important to periodically assess your progress. It’s equally important not to
beat yourself up if you backslide a little bit. The trick is–move on. Don’t use a slip as an
excuse to quit. The plan itself is a very simple one, with the hardest parts being to focus on
the SMALL goals instead of the large one and to actually sticking with it.
