A new year is coming up, and we need to evaluate how we did this year, in terms of achieving health goals, before we move on to the next. Learn about how to set realistic health goals in five easy steps.

Evaluate Your Accomplishments and Pitfalls 

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The first step in planning a future action is to evaluate what you have accomplished in the past and where you need to improve. Perhaps in the beginning of 2011 you planned to eat a balanced diet and exercise more, with a goal of achieving a desired weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is now time to evaluate if you have achieved these goals, what things you did to succeed and those that fell short of expectations.

Set Specific Goals 

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The next step would be to set specific goals. Sometimes we are not able to follow a clear direction in our plans because the goals are not specific enough to be visualized. For instance if you want to lose weight, think of it in terms of attaining a normal BMI (body mass index), which is a standard that indicates an individual’s body weight in relation to the square his or her height. The World Health Organization regards a BMI of less than 18.5 as underweight and may indicate malnutrition, an eating disorder, or other health problems, while a BMI greater than 25 is considered overweight and above 30 is considered obese. To achieve a normal BMI between 18.5-24, do the math and find out how much weight you need to gain or lose.

Set Goals that are Measurable and Achievable 

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Gear up for success by setting up goals that are measurable and achievable. Wanting “to be healthier” may be measured by planning on how to improve your diet, doing more exercise or giving up bad habits like smoking. Think of how many cups of coffee you need to limit yourself per day, how many minutes or hours of exercise you can do per day or per week or how when you need to visit your doctor for an annual check-up. Consider taking medically recommended laboratory tests that may help you evaluate if your blood sugar and cholesterol levels are normal, and what you should do to improve them if they are not.

Keep Your Goals Realistic 

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Sometimes goals are not met because they are not realistic. Planning on a daily exercise regimen that consumes a couple of hours may not be realistic for a busy working mom with many responsibilities, although it may be possible for someone who has fewer commitments. However, planning to incorporate a few minutes of exercise in between breaks may be more realistic for some and therefore, more achievable.

Consult a health provider to keep your goals realistic and within healthy limits. Planning to lose too much weight in a short period of time or doing strenuous exercises may not be recommended for you, so it is best to seek advice.

Set a Time Table 

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To monitor your success in achieving goals, set a time table for your plans. Keeping a diary or a planner will help you keep track of your goals and evaluate your achievements and pitfalls. Know which steps can be done on a daily basis, a weekly schedule, or a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Trying to maintain a healthy weight may require a daily effort and your success may be measured after a week, a month or so, depending on your target.

Try to schedule your medical visits for immunizations, screening tests and other medical check-ups according to your needs, and follow the time table. Give yourself a limited time to get rid of bad health habits like sleeping too late or drinking too much alcohol, but set enough time to replace them with good health habits like getting enough rest and relaxation.