A healthy lifestyle doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of intentional choices and a clear, well-directed plan. Lifestyle goals and setting a plan for success require sustainable habits that increase overall health and wellness. With the right plan tailored just for you, you can turn those well-meaning intentions into approaches to take action. Here are five tips to build a solid plan for success.

• Define your vision. Do you have a clear vision of your lifestyle goals? Are they specific to you – increased physical activity, healthier eating, managing stress? The foundation for your success begins with your current desire. With those goals, define a vision that is meaningful and impactful. Consider using SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound – to better outline the short-term and long-term visions.

• Identify barriers. You have your vision and goals for making healthy lifestyle changes, but are you equipped to get there? Consider potential obstacles such as lack of resources, time management, temptations, decreased motivation or external factors that are out of control, etc. Brainstorm, anticipate, and plan ahead so you can act proactively rather than reactively when these things arise.

• Habit forming. Habits can be predictable - good and bad, healthy and unhealthy. These habits can be the very things you’d like to change in your lifestyle. To do better and be better are often just wants or thoughts. How do we resolve to change, though? Try not to accept complacency. Habit change and forming is not easy, it takes deliberate and consistent work. This can be quitting tobacco, exercising more regularly, eating less sugar… whatever it might be, the habit won’t change itself. Add positive thinking to make that change!

• Less is more. You might feel the urge to do more. Don’t take on more than you can handle. Success will come in bite-sized pieces – small steps that add up to significant lifestyle changes. Focus on behavior-change just a few at a time and build your progress at a scheduled pace that works best for you. Want to gain strength and muscle? Don’t walk into the gym attempting to lift 50 pounds right away! Want to try incorporating a mediation practice? Dedicate one minute, then five minutes, and so on per day.

• Make it fun! Your lifestyle goals will be much easier to reach if you make the most important changes. And have fun while doing it! Your body is wired for enjoyment, anything that feels like a chore will take up unnecessary time and energy. Join that fitness class, try that new health food store or schedule in self-care time. Create a pattern of joy all while building successful lifestyle habits.

Define your vision and pinpoint any challenges you may face while making it manageable and sprinkling in some fun. Following these steps will impact a positive change to creating lifestyle goals. Your path to success will be better leveraged by a strategy that works best for you!