S.M.A.R.T. Planning for Change

In our last newsletter, we introduced you to the Anticancer Wheel of Life to help you identify your core values and evaluate whether you spend your time in a way that reflects your priorities.

Once you have reflected on your core values, you are ready to start making lifestyle changes that will better align with what’s most important to you. Take a moment to refer back on your Wheel, and select a particular core value that is most important to focus on right now.

One useful tool to help enact lifestyle change is the S-M-A-R-T or SMART goal framework. It can help you set realistic goals that cumulatively will create a positive impact on your life:

S=SPECIFIC
- Goals should be clear and easy to understand. Being specific will help you to define the goal and determine how to attain it.
M=MEASURABLE
- Using numbers allows you to measure your success
A=ATTAINABLE
- It’s good to ‘shoot for the stars’, but be realistic about what you can accomplish. Likewise, a goal that is too easy may not be very motivating. Only you know your limits.
R=RELEVANT
- Set goals that are important to where you are in your life right now. Don’t set a goal that someone else is pressuring you to attain. To maintain your motivation, the goal needs to be important to you.
T=TIME-BOUND
- Include an end-point. Knowing that you have a deadline will motivate you to get started.

Remember that goals do not have to be an all-or-nothing effort. In fact, many people find that an all-or-nothing mentality is a recipe for failure. Many small steps taken over time can get you to the same spot as a few huge leaps.

Using the SMART framework to set goals that align with the core values in your Anticancer Wheel of Life will give you a great start.

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