Now that the presents have been unwrapped and the champagne drunk, it’s time to start thinking about your New Year’s resolutions. As a Fitbit user, the idea of goal-setting likely isn’t new to you.
You probably have a sense of what you want to do and the steps you need to take to accomplish it. You know that goals are supposed to be SMART—specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely—and that writing them down makes you 33 percent more likely to achieve them.
Yet, sometimes, you still fall short. What gives?
You may be missing one key—yet commonly overlooked—component of goal setting: the why.
Research shows that even if a goal is SMART, if someone doesn’t perceive it as meaningful, their drive to achieve that goal may diminish.
“People are more likely to complete goals that are tied to what they value most in life,” says Fitbit Advisory Panel member Sherry Pagoto, Ph.D., a psychologist and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. “That way, the activity feels like it’s really helping you become the person you really want to be, as opposed to just an obstruction in your schedule.”
How to Find Your Reason
Two months ago Fitbit released a new campaign that highlights what inspired regular people like Rachel—who battled stress, weight gain, and type-2 diabetes for years—to get healthy. Each person’s goal was different but what spurred them to success was the same: They found their reason. Their why.
If you’re making resolutions this year, you should be doing the same. “All too often people skip the ‘why’ and go straight for a ‘what’ that they think they can nail,” says Stanford University health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., author of The Willpower Instinct. “But why vow to change something that isn’t connected to the vision you have for your life? It may be a little more intimidating to think about the biggest ‘why’s,’ but you have a much better chance of making a meaningful resolution.”
To figure out your reason, Pagoto suggests thinking about all the different areas of your life—family, work, relationships—and then writing down what you value most on a day-to-day basis in those areas. “For example, in regards to family, I’m a mom, so I might say, ‘What’s important to me about that role is that I’m a good role model and a loving mom,’” says Pagoto.
From there, break down those values into activities that support your resolution. That way the healthy habits you’re trying to adopt aren’t keeping you from the things you really value, but bringing you closer to them.
So if you have young kids and you you want to lose weight, maybe you decide to take a walk with them every day after dinner. That way, you’re getting in exercise, spending time with your children, and role modeling healthy behavior.
“Eventually, the healthy behaviors may become inherently valuable,” says Pagoto. “But some people, quite honestly, may never feel like that.” And that’s Ok. “ You may never love exercise for its own sake,” says Pagoto, “but you can like it more (or hate it less!) by having it help you live out the values that are important to you.”
What’s your reason for getting fit and healthy in 2018? Fitbit wants to know! Share your story on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #MyReasonIs or visit Find Your Reason to submit a photo or video.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Everyone wants to set targets. But it can be difficult to track progress sometimes. If only there was an app for that!
https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/Having-annual-stats-on-the-dashboard/idc-p/2430090#M144156
I’m new to Fitbit. On a Keto diet suggested by my Dr. As I am diabetic. Have lost 30 lbs and would like to stop losing weight. Along the way I haven’t done much exercise so am hoping to tone up as I now have a lot of “loose” skin.
What is a reasonable step goal for someone in their 70’s?
What is a reasonable step goal for someone in their 70’s?
I looked at my average for active minutes, taking out the inactive days, and set that as a target. when I found I achieved the target all the time I increased it a bit. Sometimes there are only so many steps you can take but keeping active is a meaningful alternative goal.
Hi. I was curious about something. I am new to fitbit, also in decent shape. I walk on the sand alot. How much difference in calorie loss is there between solid pavement and soft sand ?