Specific: What does healthier mean for you? You might have a vague notion of being slim, moving with the grace of a twenty-year-old athlete and (bonus) fitting into the jeans you wore when you were at university… But we want you to imagine what healthy looks and feels like for you RIGHT NOW. Perhaps you have a goal weight range in mind, or maybe you want mobility back in a specific part of your body. Your journey to better health might involve multiple interlinked but individual goals. Once you know what healthy means to you and what specific goals will get you there, write them down and commit to them.

Measurable: We’ve talked about how healthy might look and feel to help you identify the goals, but now that you’ve identified your goals, how will you track your progress? Will you rely on numbers on the scale or measuring tape to measure your weight loss? Could you keep a diary where you note your pain rating daily on a scale of one to ten, or measure your heart rate before, during and after exercise? Is health a number? NO. Can measuring your progress keep you accountable to yourself? Yes.

Achievable: So, fitting into the jeans you wore at university might not be achievable (at least in the short term). But steady, sustainable weight loss is. Running a marathon in the first quarter of the year might not work if your exercise regime has mainly involved coach surfing and diddly squats in recent years, but a Park Run personal best might be doable.

Relevant: We’re sorry to keep banging on about the jeans, but they’re such a good example of what not to worry about. The jeans are just a status symbol – they’re not even in fashion anymore! It’s a lovely dream to keep you inspired on the tough days, but your goal needs to be relevant to your life right now. For example, I want to achieve a weight within the healthy weight range in 2024 so that I don’t need to worry about my blood pressure, my cholesterol, or my knee having to bear unnecessary weight on the stairs… That’s a relevant goal – by the way, the osteopaths at Body@Boronia are here to help you with your knee in the meantime.

Time-Bound: A goal you plan on getting around to some time is not a goal you’ll get around to. If you want to improve your range of motion in a stiff joint, commit to calling us for an appointment by the end of the week and to performing the exercises we set for you daily. Break the goal down into its required steps and put those in your diary. (Pro-tip: Tell us about your goals during your appointment, and we can help you figure out realistic time frames for their achievement.)