As simple as setting goals seems; many people set goals improperly. Two tricks. First, goals need to be specific—diet and exercise, are too general. Turn general concepts like these into “countable” behaviors. You cant’ count “diet” but you can count the number of servings of fruits and vegetables per day. You can’t count “exercise”, but you can count the number of minutes walked. Second set reachable goals. If you're not successful right from the start you are less likely to stick with it. It’s much better to set an easy goal, achieve it and move forward than to set a goal that you fail at.

Setting specfic, reachable goals is the first of the SMART skills. By setting goals that are detailed and reachable you ensure your success early on. Remember, when you're talking about achieving a new lifestyle you're talking about changing your habits and routines. Knowing how to do this is critical. Setting goals along with: Monitoring your progress; Arranging for Success; Recruiting support and Treating yourself will help you make lasting change. For more information check out: www.drjoshk.com