The best first step might be to close your eyes and imagine yourself on the journey.
A new study by Sheffield experts has found people who visualise themselves taking steps to achieve their goal are more likely to follow through and do what they i
ntended.
In the first study of its kind, Christopher Armitage from The University of Sheffield and John Reidy from Sheffield Hallam University looked at the effects of imagining giving blood.
They found that people who were asked to visualise themselves going through the actions involved in donating - making an appointment, taking the route, preparing to donate - were subsequently more likely to donate than those who did not, or who only visualised the outcome.
Researchers recruited 146 people for the study, and the results were published in the British Journal of Health Psychology.
Mr Armitage said: "Once people have a specific and fixed intention, like going to a fitness class or eating a healthy breakfast, they're really likely to go through with it, so finding a way to help people to change or fix their intentions is a vital step in improving their health behaviour.
"There is evidence that shows mental simulation may link thought and action.
"Our study suggests that closing your eyes and imagining the process you would go through could take you one step closer to actually doing it," he added.
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