How to set goals and stick to them
One of the best ways to create accountability and provide motivation when it comes to fitness is by setting goals. For some people, working out is just a part of their everyday life and they genuinely enjoy it without putting too much thought into the ‘why’. For the rest of us, goals are important as they give us something to work towards. Whether your goals are health goals, athletic goals or aesthetic, here are some handy things to keep in mind when setting your goals.
1. Keep the goal specific.
If your goal is too vague, it will be difficult to keep track and realise when you have reached it. Keeping your goal specific means that you have a definitive achievement moment. The more specific your goal is, the more tangible it is and the easier it will be to stick to.
2. Keep the goal realistic.
Your goal should challenge you, but still be within the realms of reality. For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, setting a goal to lose 20kgs in a month is unrealistic and unsustainable. But, setting a goal to lose 3-5kgs a month is more realistic and within the parameters of the recommended maximum monthly weight loss.
3. Find the Fun
Try not to think of your fitness as a ‘chore’. The reality is that we are so fortunate to be able to use our bodies in whatever capacity we can, so finding joy in your workout will help you remained focussed as it gives you something to look forward to. Fitness really, is a relatively cheap way to practice self care, but it’s important to find what brings joy to you and while it takes hard work and perseverance to reach ones goals, try to take at least one day out a week to do something active that you LOVE. For me, it’s hiking or playing Just Dance with my daughter (it’s more exhausting then you would think). Both of them are active and I am able to see noticeable differences in my fitness level as each week goes by.
4. Break it Down
A 12 month goal can seem really daunting, or even a six month goal. So break it down into smaller goals. You can do this by:
Setting daily goals
Setting monthly goals
A daily goal could be something as simple as, ‘Today I will be more mindful about the food that I am consuming’. Taking time in the morning to set your daily goal keeps your long term goal in the forefront of your mind. Usually, I will annoyingly tell my fiancé what my daily goal is as it creates accountability and when I am able to tell him that I achieved that daily goal it’s an incredibly rewarding feeling.
A monthly goal is my favourite way to goal set because four weeks doesn’t seem so huge, but it also narrows the window enough that it puts a bit of healthy pressure on.
5. Don’t Forget Your Why!
This is the best advice I can give you. A great way to keep your Why in the forefront of your mind is to create a vision board on something you use everyday. I have one on my computer (I clumsily made it on photoshop) and I also bought this phone background template so that my goals are right there everytime I look at my phone. If you journal, remind yourself each morning why you’re getting yourself up to train.
Remember, you are stronger than you think. It will seem hard in the beginning, your goals may seem so far away but everyday is an opportunity to keep pushing to be the best version of you. If you need help with goal setting, or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can either comment below, or send me an email.
Stanni xx