This is the time of year when we tend to entertain the idea of resolutions that will begin January 1 and take us into the rest of our lives. Don’t take that to mean that I don’t support looking into the future with healthful goals in mind–but I know from experience that it is the crafting of the fine print of those goals that will set us up for successful achievement or a sense of overwhelm and challenge that will thwart our best intention.

Resolutions tend to be a broad stroke approach to a desired outcome, whereas small step goals are specific daily behaviors that allow for success to be experienced. As opposed to “I am going to get into shape in 2010”, two small goals would be created such as “I will eat a mixed and colorful salad for lunch twice per week”, and “I will walk after work, for 15 minutes, three times per week”; these two goals may seem insignificant and not likely to lead to measurable success, but these small-step goals are actually the first steps towards lifetime success. Imagine a client who eats a packaged sandwich from the cafeteria most days, and who does not engage in routine physical activity–committing to these two small-step goals will invite immediate and pleasant success, thereby creating the platform upon which more challenging goals will be considered in the future. “Getting into shape” is a goal that will take months to realize, while tracking daily behaviors of adding in healthful foods and routine body movement are measurable and realistic goals that can be modified every couple of weeks, as success becomes the familiar response to behavior change commitment.

What small steps will you be taking that will lead to your optimal health and well-being?