For many people, the month of January is synonymous with New Year’s resolutions. Google Search trends back this up: Every January, we see spikes in searches related to making positive changes, particularly around health and wellness, like getting better sleep, reducing stress and increasing fitness.
If you’re setting this kind of health and wellness goal for 2023, try to make it a SMART goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Evidence suggests that when people set SMART goals, they’re more likely to follow through on the day-to-day behaviors that add up to change over time. As an example: If setting a totally new goal feels daunting, instead consider setting a goal to maintain or build on the healthy routines you already have, like taking a daily walk, going to sleep at the same time each night, meditating three days a week or calling a friend or family member every day. The idea is to make the goal achievable — the A in SMART.