Five Steps to Reach Your New Year’s Health Outcomes

You have heard it time and time again, many people create these long lists of resolutions for the new year and never stick to them. The problem is that people have a hard time sticking to any resolution or commitment because they lack action or the proper steps to meet the goal. They may also lose the motivation or may not have enough support to stick to their goals.

A more efficient strategy than goal setting or New Year’s resolutions is to set outcomes!

Follow these five easy steps to reach your health outcomes for 2022.

1. First,  identify what you desire to accomplish. Get very clear about what it is that you desire to improve or change.
2. Then, list the steps that are required to help you reach your desired outcome. These are the activities that you would be required to do to make progress toward reaching your outcomes.
3. Take focused, consistent action and do the steps no matter how big or small. Consistency is key.
4. Monitor your progress and check in with yourself to see the benefits of your actions by creating a seven-day, 30-day and 90-day outcomes sheet. These check-ins help you to see how you are making progress and to keep you on track.
5. Celebrate your progress and reward yourself.

Focusing on progress is the best way to reach your outcome.

Think of one thing you can do today to make progress toward the outcome that you desire. Set a time each week to review the past week and check to see how you can make the next week better. Reward yourself for your accomplishments and celebrate.

For example, if the outcome is to have more energy and lose weight, it can be overwhelming for many people to think they have to eat like a bird and go to the gym every day. Instead, think of what steps can get you closer to your outcome. Maybe it is simply eating a cleaner Mediterranean or Paleo diet, doing a three- to seven- day cleanse or increasing your exercise regimen to 15 or 20 minutes per day or three times per week. Making progress gets you closer to reaching your outcome.

This method can also be done in other areas of your life such as business, money management, relationships, etc. Just follow the same five easy steps and take consistent action.

Focusing on better health for 2022 is a great idea! Having a health outcome plan in place and someone to hold you accountable if you are not able to keep yourself motivated will help you to be successful at reaching your health outcomes. In 2022, set optimal health as a top priority. I would be happy to assist you and hold you accountable toward reaching your health outcomes. FBN

By Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc

Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.