Spring is a time for renewal. After nesting all winter \u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adnow is the time to move forward with your life. You now have that extra energy and focus to take action and create change. This is everywhere the case, but somehow it is even more so in sunny Crete, where nature is in full glory.<\/p>\n
Spring is a great time to envision possibilities and begin to think about reinvention \u2014 sometimes in your relationships, sometimes in your career and work lives, sometimes in your diet and sometimes in your looks.<\/p>\n
Allow me\u00a0 to share with\u00a0 you this great Harvard Medical\u2019s School Special Health\u00a0 Report : Simple Changes, Big Rewards:<\/em>\u00a0<\/a>A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n In this inspiring report Dr Edward Phillips talks you through how to incorporate simple changes into your life that can reap big rewards. \u00a0Key <\/strong>to the life changing process described in the report, is choosing the right goal that passes the SMART test.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIf you tackle the goal you\u2019re most likely to accomplish\u2014rather than the goal you think you should<\/em> make\u2014you\u2019re better able to achieve it and build up a head of steam to tackle tougher goals.<\/p>\n Not sure if your goal passes the SMART test? Here are a few more details on setting a SMART goal from Simple Changes, Big Rewards<\/em>:<\/p>\n S<\/strong> \u2014 Set a very specific<\/em> goal. For example, \u201cI will add one fruit serving\u2014that\u2019s half a cup, chopped\u2014to my current daily diet.\u201d<\/p>\n M<\/strong> \u2014 Find a way to measure<\/em> progress. In the case above, \u201cI will log my efforts each day on my calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n A<\/strong> \u2014 Make sure it\u2019s achievable<\/em>. Be sure you\u2019re physically capable of safely accomplishing your goal. If not, aim for a smaller goal.<\/p>\n R<\/strong> \u2014 Make sure it\u2019s realistic<\/em>. Again, choosing the change you most need to make\u2014let\u2019s say, quitting smoking or losing weight\u2014isn\u2019t as successful as choosing the change you\u2019re most confident you\u2019ll be able to make. Focus on a goal that is both important to you and is comfortably within your grasp. If you picture a 10-point scale of confidence in achieving your goal, where 1 equals no confidence and 10 equals 100% certainty, you should land in the 7-to-10 zone. An additional fruit serving a day is a small, manageable step toward better health.<\/p>\n T<\/strong> \u2014 Set time<\/em> commitments. Pick a date and time to start\u2014\u201dWednesday at breakfast, I\u2019ll add frozen blueberries to cereal\u201d\u2014and regular check-in dates\u2014\u201dI\u2019ll check my log every week and decide if I should make any changes in my routines to succeed.\u201d When setting commitments, outside deadlines can be really helpful. Signing up for a charity run or a sprint triathlon on a certain date prods you to get a training program under way.\u201d<\/p>\nIs renewing your Smile a SMART Goal for you?<\/h3>\n