Making healthful changes in your life is the best gift you can give to yourself -- and to the people around you, the people who count on you for support, for guidance, for supper on the table.

Think of your health as a challenge that can be tackled with ease once you put your energy into it -- just like the project you never thought you'd finish or that promotion you never thought you'd get. Whether your aim is to eat better, be more active, or lower stress, pursuing goals for your health is like any other challenge. It takes time, commitment, and courage to stay motivated. But remember, you can. All you have to do is start.

How to set healthy-living goals you can achieve

Know what's moving you. Why do you want to exercise more? To increase your stamina? Boost your flexibility? Have more energy? If you're sure of the reasons behind your goals from the start, you'll be more apt to follow through, especially when you start to see the first fruits of your efforts.

Keep it realistic. If you love dessert, try eating smaller portions or making low-fat variations instead of attempting to give it up altogether. Set your goals according to the person you are and the things you enjoy, not the person you wish you were.

Set both short-and long-term goals. Long-term goal: to eat healthier. Short-term goal: to eat two more servings of vegetables a day. Because they're more specific targets, short-term goals show you how to get the results you want. And they're less intimidating, so you're more likely to be successful.

Keep it positive. "I want to have more energy" is more positive than saying, "I can't stand being tired all the time." That's more than a matter of semantics: Framing your goals in positive ways can help make it more pleasant to work toward them. For instance, focus on what you are having for dessert -- a couple of bites of your dinner companion's cheesecake -- instead of what you're not having: a generous wedge all for yourself.

Write it down. By keeping a journal of your goals and the progress you're making toward them, you'll be able to look back, applaud your achievements, and see what still needs to be done.

Reward yourself. Buy that book you've been dying to read, treat yourself to a bubble bath, or head out to your favorite trail for some solitude. Don't wait until you meet your long-term goal to give yourself a pat on the back; rewards along the way will keep you motivated and energized.

Don't expect smooth sailing. Change doesn't come easy. But don't let glitches in your progress stop you altogether. Simply pick yourself up and take up where you left off.