If you've yet to come across the lists of "quick" tips to attaining goals that seem to be circulating the interweb these days, then you're probably bound to soon. It seems as though every goal or desire that may have once seemed dauntingly unachievable now has an article with a step-by-step process on how to reach it quickly or easily. And of course, we can't help but think as we frantically scroll down the page, "fantastic, they've found me a solution". Unfortunately, it couldn't be further from the truth.

This day and age, the lifestyles we lead force us to think efficiently, not sustainably. Whatever works right now, for the most part, is the route we choose. Fad diets outweigh gradual shifts towards healthier eating, trending exercise programs outweigh sustainable movement to keep us fit, and the latest solutions to quickly fix health concerns keep us from dealing with the underlying cause. If you can relate to what I've just said, please don't feel ashamed, for we have all taken what seemed to be the easy way out at one time or another. And while quick step solutions seem so appealing and simple, they are almost always an insurance policy for failure. The hard truth is, much like you already know, the easy way out is commonly short lived. Why do trending, "quick-fix" solutions often not last? Because they're not designed to. Lets face it... anything thats becomes a consistent part of our lifestyle didn't happen overnight, and it most certainly didn't have 10 quick steps to get us there.

Now I'm not saying there isn't a value to a list of tips to get you places - because there is. They're tips, as simple as that. Use them to get the ball rolling, to give you ideas to transition into change, and to ease you along the way. Use them for nothing more, and please, oh pretty pretty please, ignore the part where it tells you it will happen quickly, for the key to successful, longterm change, is time. To effectively make change, we have to ditch the lists, forget the steps, and set some achievable, and more importantly, maintainable goals.

It is also important to know how to set these goals. While you may want to lose weight before that tropical holiday, you have to be realistic and ask yourself if you've set the right goals to make it happen. How much weight, by when... and have you set smaller, measurable, and realistic midway-points to ultimately get you there? To set SMART goals (my best attempt at a play on words), we like to follow this acronyms:

Furthermore, take the time to think about what works for you. While your online sources may highlight the easiest solutions, they may not be the easiest for you. Always stop to ask yourself... Am I ready to make this change?Does this fit into my lifestyle right now? Will this fit into my lifestyle three months from now? Don't be afraid to start small, don't be afraid to not succeed, and most importantly, don't be afraid to try again.

Last but not least, don't take the quick or easy route to achieve what you want. While it may sound appealing, it will likely get you nowhere, quickly.