When you think about making some kind of change in your life — or when someone tells you that you need to make a change — you may feel overwhelmed. You may not know how to make it happen. Sometimes you get a great start, but then something gets in the way and you stop taking action.

Progress toward a goal can plateau and may be difficult to maintain. Change is hard, but this time, it can be different for you.

No matter what your experiences have been in the past, you can use them to help you learn how to make a change.

As you think about the next changes you'd like to make, try these steps first.

1. Think differently about your plans or goals. They aren't potential successes or failures. Instead, think, "I’m going to try something and see how it goes. If I need to change my plan, that's fine. I'll try again a little differently."

2. Think about what really matters to you. When you think about changing something in your life, first consider what's most important to you.

   Ask yourself:

   • Why do I want to make this change?
   • What do I value? How and where do I spend most of my time?
   • How will this change fit with the things I value? Will it increase my ability to enjoy them?
   • What is one small step I can start with today or tomorrow?

Making a change doesn't mean that you should only focus on a big idea or goal. It's also about breaking it down into smaller steps that you're confident you can achieve. Taking small steps will help get you to your bigger goal or vision.

Anyone can say, "My goal is to exercise more." But vague goals like "exercise more" tend to be overwhelming and disappear. You don't get any reward for your effort or your success. But going to an exercise class twice a week gives you an immediate reward every time you do it. How you set your goals greatly affects your success in reaching them. Try the SMART approach.

SMART goals are:

• Specific. What are you going to do?
• Measurable. How will you know you've been successful?
• Attainable. Do you feel confident that you can do this?
• Relevant. Is this important to you personally?
• Time-limited. What can you do in a week's time? Each goal should have a short enough time frame that you get a sense of accomplishment for your work. Plan to start today. What can you do now?

You want to set goals that are important to you and that you will reach. That success will increase your confidence and keep you moving forward.

An important part of creating lasting change is to set both long-term and short-term goals.

1. Identify your long-term goal first. An example is, "I will walk briskly 30 minutes a day at least five days a week." This is a great goal to help you increase your energy and fitness level. But it may take time to reach this goal if you haven't exercised regularly.
2. Next, make short-term goals to help you reach your long-term goal. For example: "I will walk 10 minutes at lunchtime at least two days this week."
3. As you work toward your short-term goals, take time to reflect on how it's going. What part of your plan is working and what might you want to change? Maybe lunch meetings keep you from walking some days. So adjust your goal. Try parking in a ramp farther away from your office. This could give you a brisk 10-minute walk before work.
4. After you reach your short-term goal, increase your effort a bit more. Add more time each day or add another day of exercise each week. Build on your success. As you increase your effort little by little, soon enough you'll accomplish your long-term goal.

You've got this!

For many people, the best way to make a lifestyle change begins with changing their attitudes toward change.

Maybe you get discouraged when you think about changes you tried to make in the past. Think of them as learning opportunities. Be curious. Don't worry about the past. Keep moving forward.