With champagne corks popping, we all started off 2019 with resolutions to get fit, eat healthy, manage our finances, or run a marathon. Seems easy on Jan 1^st but the reality is that lifestyle changes are hard to make, and when they start falling to the wayside in February, we lose hope and feel like failures. Don’t beat yourself up. The magic is in the planning.  Setting realistic attainable goals as opposed to grand resolutions is the winning ingredient.  The SMART acronym for goal setting is a great template to work from. Smart goals are based in reality.  

You want a goal that is:

 Specific, not general- Curb evening snacking from 7-9pm, Walk 3 times per week, or deposit $10.00 weekly into a savings account.

Measurable- Can you measure your goal? If drinking more water is your goal,  set a specific number of glasses and track your intake.  

Achievable- Is running for 1 hour 7 days per week actually achievable, or is 4  more achievable considering you’ve spent the last 10 year s sitting on the couch?  10 lbs a week is likely not achievable unless you are on the Biggest Looser campus. You set yourself up for failure if goals are not achievable.

Realistic- Reality check your goals in the cold light of day. It’s natural to be in a hurry, but if saving 1000.00 per month is forcing you to live in your BFF’s closet and eat macaroni, you need to ask yourself if your goal is realistic.

Timely- Set a timeline for your goals, keeping in mind that they need to be realistic.  A timeline gives you a sense of urgency to keep you moving forward.  Choose the right time for change, so that nothing gets in your way

  Goal setting to improve your life can empower you when done with SMART in mind. The realities of day to day life can bring down the most motivated of goal setters, so rewarding and encouraging yourself is essential  

 Treat yourself kindly with sage advice such as “You will not lose 40 lbs by next Thursday, but you will do it by next September” As time moves forward you should treat yourself to some rewards that celebrate small milestones but don’t derail your efforts. Studies have shown that massage increases feelings of well being, decreases stress, and helps decrease muscle soreness from increased workouts. . You don’t have to be dealing with a specific injury to get the benefits of massage. For people watching their budget as well as their health, our student clinic offers wellness massages at a reduced cost to the public.

 If your 2019 goals include a career change, we applaud you! Registered Massage Therapy affords flexibility and a positive work environment that many people crave when seeking a new career. Come for a tour, or check out OV as a “Massage student for a day” and see if this rewarding career is for you.