Health and Wellness Corner

The other day I read a Facebook status update asking a snarky, but honest, question: How many people have given up their New Year's resolutions after the first week?

Here is some information to help you stick to those resolutions and personal goals.

First, how can you set yourself up for success? Sometimes a goal can be difficult to achieve because a person might not know what he or she is working toward and may not be able to identify the desired goal.

An effective goal-setting method is the SMART goal. This process allows a person to create specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound goals. Rather than committing to "getting healthier," which is vague, a SMART goal would be "I will walk or jog for 30 minutes, five days a week."

SMART goals specify the action, measure the amount of time a person will commit to that behavior and address relevant aspects of this person's wellness.

SMART goals are attainable with dedication and provide a unit of time by which to complete the goal. By keeping record for just one week, a person can determine how close they came to meeting their goal.

In a TED Talk, musician Derek Sivers advises to not tell other people about your goals because you may be less likely to achieve them.

Second, what should your goals be about? I advocate creating one or two commitments toward improving health and wellness.

 Getting more sleep, eating breakfast regularly, practicing mindfulness meditation and balancing study and social time all address different parts of you in a SMART way that can help you be a successful student.

You can get more information at the Center for Health & Wellbeing Table in the Davis Center Atrium every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. You can also go online and check out: www.uvm.edu/health.