Secrets to Reaching Your Goals as a New Mom

Your body has worked hard over the past nine months. Taking care of yourself is just as important now as it was before you welcomed your little one into the world.

When you’re setting health and wellness goals as a new mom, think SMART:

Specific

Keep your goals as specific as possible. Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it. Ask yourself why you’re setting goals. Will reaching your goals make you feel happy? Will your energy be replenished? Answer the questions of what, how, and why to help set clear, specific goals for yourself.

Measurable

You can’t reach a goal if it can’t be measured. Whether you’re trying to lose one pound per week or walk a mile in 13 minutes, your goals must be measurable. Track your progress, break larger goals down into smaller, more manageable goals, and celebrate each milestone. Every success you achieve will build your confidence.

Accountable

Hold yourself accountable to your goals. That could mean logging workouts, tracking food, or keeping a daily journal. You could even start a blog to share your journey with others. Finding an accountability partner — or a community that will support and encourage you — is crucial to staying motivated and reaching your goals.

Realistic

Your goals should challenge you, but they have to be attainable. You’ll discourage yourself if you set goals that are too difficult, or are unrealistic. Set challenging goals — not overwhelming ones.

Timeframe

You’ll have a hard time staying motivated if your goal doesn’t have a time limit. Give yourself six months to walk a 13-minute mile, or nine months to lose 25 lbs. It may take you longer to reach your goals than you originally planned, but that’s okay! Once you start making progress and seeing results, you’ll be motivated to keep going. Adjust your timeframe as you learn what your body is capable of.

Set Yourself Up for Success

There are many methods of tracking, measuring, and visualizing your goals as a new mom. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Create a Vision Board

Make your vision board out of any material that can be hung up or propped against your wall. You can make a virtual vision board by designing a personal website or blog, or by using Pinterest. You can even use sites like Evernote or Google Keep to collect your favorite inspirational images and quotes. Whichever format you choose, keep your vision board somewhere you’ll see every day.

Write it Down

People who write down their goals accomplish more than people who don’t. Envision yourself as if you’ve already accomplished your goals, and write down what you see. Pay attention to details: Where are you? Who’s with you? What are you doing? Incorporate all five senses into your vision. What can you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel? Now take that vision and set some SMART goals to get there.

Find the Right Tools

Tools and equipment — like an exercise ball, weights, and the right pair of running shoes — will help you reach your health and wellness goals. A high-quality pregnancy band such as Cinch Tummy Wrap™ can help your new mom body to heal. Shop the Cinch Tummy Wrap collection now. There are also some fantastic health and wellness apps that you can download to your phone, making it easier than ever to track your goals.

Give Back

Use an app like Jarous to team up with others and give back to your community while you work to reach your goals. Find an event — or a “jar” — to give to, or create your own. You can even reach out to Jarous to get your school and community involved. Charlene Williams has partnered with Jarous because 100% of donations go to the fundraising events she chooses to support.

Change Yourself, Change Your Community

By pairing your health and wellness journey with Jarous, you’re not only setting yourself up for goal-reaching success. You’re also encouraging a community of giving. “Don’t just give change, make change.” Join the movement with us.