Attain Your Goals: 4 Great Tips
By Debbie Hickey, eDiets Contributor

Think about how many times you've told yourself that you would start an exercise program, eat healthfully, spend less time at work and more time with the family, take those courses to advance your career, change jobs because your boss is impossible or learn to play the guitar.

We humans are creatures of habit. We don’t like change. We get comfortable in our niche and want to stay there because it’s safe. But it can also get boring, right? We need to be challenged, stimulated with new ideas and by new surroundings. This is what keeps us young and vibrant, regardless of age. I know people at 35 that are older in spirit than some 75-year-old people!

Here are some tools that can help put you in the most positive, productive state of mind of your life.

Set goals. Take the time to contemplate what you really want to achieve. It may sound silly, but take a blank sheet of paper and pen. Write down anything that comes to mind: what you dream of, what aspirations you have, what your hopes are for the future. If you do this, I guarantee you will see a pattern develop, and you can begin using these ideas to structure your goals.

Be an action hero! Once you've determined your goals, a plan of action is needed. Don’t blindly step forward without creating a plan. As they say, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Break your goals down into specific steps that you need to take in order to achieve success: eat right, get enough sleep, be positive and supportive, etc.

Don’t be afraid of change. Many of us are stuck in the same rut day in and day out, because we are afraid of change. Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results doesn’t work, does it? Remember, change can be a good thing! If you don’t take the chance, how will you ever know what wonderful things this change could bring to your life?

Visualize. World-class athletes use visualization to help them perform their best. Basketball players, for example, will visualize making their most difficult shot over and over again with precision in their head. When it comes time to make that shot in a game situation, it’s as natural as breathing. Picture yourself having reached your goals , whether it’s a healthier lifestyle, getting more organized, taking control of your money or household chores. Envision how you will feel, act, how people will react to you. In other words, what your world will be like when you have achieved your goals.

Now is the time to Commit To Be Fit!