Check in on your progress

Tracking your progress ensures that you’re making strides towards your health goals

Setting goals for healthy changes and turning them into habits can have a positive impact on your heart health.  But it’s important to review your progress so you can identify any challenges and adjust your goals as a result.

What actions have you taken to achieve your goals? Are you on track to achieve them? Or do you need to revise your goals?

Try to answer the following questions and think of the next steps you can take.

• Are you being active enough?
• Are you following a heart-healthy eating pattern?
• Do you take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor?
• Do you smoke? If you do, have you thought about quitting?
• Do you drink alcohol? If you do, have you tried to stop completely?
• Do you know your blood pressure and cholesterol? Are they within a healthy range? Do you know how to manage them? Are you managing them well?
• Are you seeing your GP regularly to manage your heart health?

Tips for sticking to your heart health goals

Have a ‘goal buddy’. Reach out to a friend or someone in your family who knows the goals you are working towards. Your goal buddy can help you stay motivated and keep you on track.

Try the ‘don’t break the chain’ method. Put a calendar on your wall or use a calendar app on your phone if that works better for you. On each day that you achieve your goal, mark the day with a red ‘X’ or write ‘done’. Seeing all days marked can give you a sense of satisfaction and motivation to keep going and not break the chain.