Last post we talked about developing and following a plan to keep your New Year’s Healthy Living Resolutions. This post I’m going to show you how simple that is to do.
Wanting to live a healthy life implies that you have a Vision of what that would look like for you in the future after you’ve achieved your objectives and goals.
So, your first step is to write your Vision Statement. Write your statement is the present tense, as if it is real NOW – but pretend you are living in a “perfect future” where you have already achieved your goals – as well as continue to sustain them.
Everyone’s Vision Statement will be different, but here’s an example:
“Every day I enjoy eating a delicious, plant-based, healthy, and nutritious diet. I look forward to my daily walks as well as other physical activities such as gardening and riding my bike as they both relax and invigorate me. My diabetes is well-controlled and my blood pressure is within normal limits. I am filled with energy and vitality that allow me to enjoy life to the fullest.”
Writing a Vision Statement is not “wishful thinking”. The very fact that your vision statement isn’t real for you NOW is where the power of your vision lies.
Because, if you want to make it real, you are a “Man – or Woman – with a mission.”
Your second step is to write your Mission Statement. Your Mission Statement is written from the perspective of NOW. It briefly answers the following questions:
- What is/are the purpose(s) of my goals?
- What are my goals (resolutions)?
Again, everyone’s Mission Statement will be different – but here’s one that could have been written for the Vision Statement that I’ve given as an example:
“Lowering my risk of developing diabetes and lowering my blood pressure is essential in order for me to live a healthy life. To achieve these goals this year I base my daily diet on sound nutrition and exercise most days of the week. Every day I follow my plan brings me more energy and vitality that allows me to contribute to the well being of those I love and work with as well as my own.”
You’ll notice that your Mission Statement has three elements:
- Purpose (Objective): Lower risk of diabetes and lower blood pressure.
- Goals: Consume a nutritious diet daily and exercise most days.
- Reason: To contribute to your own well being and that of others.
Your third step is to identify the “ways”- strategies and tactics – you use to achieve your goals. Let’s use “Consume a nutritious diet” as our example:
- Make initial appointment with holistic nutritionist.
- Follow nutritional plan devised by nutritionist.
- Maintain a daily food journal to document my progress.
- Shop weekly to ensure I have appropriate foods on hand.
- Make and eat breakfast at home daily.
- Bring my lunch to work.
Your fourth step is to review your plan on the same day each week. As you review your plan you’ll note any obstacles or challenges you may anticipate as far as achieving your goals. For instance, maybe you have a business luncheon to attend and won’t be able to bring your sack lunch to work.
You know that you won’t be served anything close to healthy – so you plan to eat an apple on the way there, scrape the fat (I mean sauce) off the rubber chicken, and eat only the veggies and salad provided – skipping the fat (I mean whatever “starch” covered in sauce or butter they place in front of you.)
When you review your plan and can anticipate a challenge you can then adjust the tactics you will use to achieve your goals. It is always a good idea to actually write this adjustment down prior to the actual event. Knowing what you will be doing goes a long way to actually doing it. Keeping a little daily appointment book or journal (either pen and ink or using your iPod or phone) is essential as this allows to track and measure your progress.
Done. Now, that wasn’t so complicated after all.
