For many people, the month of January is synonymous with New Year’s resolutions. Google Search trends back this up: Every January, we see spikes in searches related to making positive changes, particularly around health and wellness, like getting better sleep, reducing stress and increasing fitness.
If you’re setting this kind of health and wellness goal for 2023, try to make it a SMART goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Evidence suggests that when people set SMART goals, they’re more likely to follow through on the day-to-day behaviors that add up to change over time. As an example: If setting a totally new goal feels daunting, instead consider setting a goal to maintain or build on the healthy routines you already have, like taking a daily walk, going to sleep at the same time each night, meditating three days a week or calling a friend or family member every day. The idea is to make the goal achievable — the A in SMART.
Something else that can help you achieve your goals: Measuring your progress (the M in SMART). Research shows that when people monitor their progress and behaviors they are more likely to follow through on changes. For example, tracking your activity or sleep with a wearable helps you understand the factors that influence these aspects of your health and wellbeing. Tracking helps you recognize barriers and challenges, and problem-solve ways to maintain the changes you’re trying to make.
Google products like the Pixel Watch, Fitbit and Google Nest can help. Each of these tools has features that provide insights into your body and behaviors. Those insights can help you figure out how best to tackle your goals and feel better in general. Here’s how you can use these tools to make informed health and wellness decisions.