Goal Setting Success - Part 2
Set goals that motivate.
In my last post, I discussed defining the goal you are setting (Objective or Subjective) and then detailing the type of goal you are setting (Outcome, Performance, or Process).
Let’s now explore two important questions. The WHY and the HOW?
WHY do you want this?
With goal setting, it’s good to start with what you want to achieve overall. This can be either Subjective (not easily measured) or Objective (easily measured). Either is okay. It’s an opportunity to explore what you want in the end. Take time on this and explore your motivations here. WHY do you want this goal? The better you can define this (measurable or not), the better your short term goals will be at making your path the one you’re willing to go down. Especially when the inevitable obstacle comes your way to try and steer you off.
After you’ve defined what you are trying to achieve and why, take a minute to explore the pros/cons of that goal. Not just for yourself, but those around you. Especially those relationships that are important to you.
PROS
-I will live a longer and healthier life for my family!
-I will clear my mind of stress and clutter.
-My spouse will love my endurance ;)
-My kids will love my strength to carry them up the stairs.
CONS
-I will miss out on seeing the kids off to school, or family game night.
-My boss thinks I am not putting enough time into work.
-My spouse needs me to help around the house more.
Do the pros outweigh the cons? If not, might want to reevaluate now before you find yourself inevitably quitting. Don’t overthink this, though. You’re simply identifying potential obstacles to your goal. If the con is immediately insurmountable, then reevaluate the goal. If not, then you can set your action plan accordingly so your goal is on track from the start. Try to settle just on the obvious things for now. No need to discourage yourself from starting in the first place.
Minor obstacles are inevitable, and you might surprise yourself in your ability to navigate around them while still making family game night. Especially when your energy and endurance improve from the healthier habits you make.
HOW do we make it happen?
Specify your ACTIONS
Now that you have the overarching reason(s) you want to achieve your goal, start to explore more specific short-term milestones. If your only goal is a broad general idea, then life’s daily challenges will easily overtake you as your goal becomes more of a wish. Having short-term goals will make sure you are on track week-by-week and month-by-month, depending on your timeline.
Also, short term milestones will help you more easily put together your Action Plan, which is the day by day tasks you need to complete. What your Action Plan entails will be up to you and/or the professional you hire to help you.
For example, a beginner marathon runner would set short-term milestones like
Run a 5K by the end of February
2. Run a 10K by the end of March
3. Run a Half-Marathon by the end of May
etc.
How they hit those milestones would be their Action Plan.
Week 1: Run 3 miles Tues/Wed/Thur and 6 miles Sat.
Week 2: Run 3 miles Tues/Wed/Thur and 7 miles Sat.
Week 3: Run 3 miles Tues/Thur, 4 miles Wed, and 5 miles Sat
etc.
Setting good short-term goals will give you a clearer picture of how to formulate your action plan.
There’s a fun acronym you can use here. Try to set SMARTS Goals.
SMARTS
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Action-Oriented
R - Realistic
T - Timely
S - Self-Determined
Specific
Don’t daisy foot your short term goal. What exactly are you doing this week toward your overall goal? What definitive measurement do you need to reach by the end of the month? Lay it out, so you can see the road map.
Measurable
So you have reference points to compare your progress to.
Action-Oriented
Action-oriented refers to setting a goal that specifies the action you need to do. For instance, “walking more often” is NOT action-oriented. “More often” is too vague. However, “walking outdoors 30min every day” IS action oriented. It clearly defines what you are going to do. Once you perform the exact action, you know you are on track with your goal.
Realistic
Keep the goal within reach. It must be something that is attainable. Challenging, but attainable.
Timely
Set that deadline! Nothing motivates us more than seeing that clock tick and the deadline approach. This could be an upcoming vacation, or competition, or simply your own made up timeline, as long as it’s attainable.
Self-Determined
Is this a goal someone else set for you outside of your own volition? Or is this a change you actually want to see happen? Are you the one motivated to make this change? This is why you explored the WHY of your overall goal.
You will achieve none of the goals that you aren’t actually self-determined to achieve.
Outside help from friends, family, or a hired professional can be very helpful in all this. But it all must be rooted in a change that you are self-determined to achieve.
What if I miss?
The goal posts might move. That’s okay. Move with them. This can all be as flexible as you need it to be, as you keep your primary long-term goal in view. In health and fitness, the pursuit is the most important thing. If you miss a goal, adjust your timeline a bit and stay on track. The fact that you are pursuing a goal at all is awesome!
Setting goals can be easy. Achieving them is the hard part. Set yourself up for success by setting goals that will lead you toward some real change. Before embarking on a major life change, take a moment to explore your goal and ask yourself these questions…
What type of goal am I setting? (Outcome, Performance, or Process)
How specific is this goal? (and is it easily measured?)
Is this a short term or long term goal? (if long term, how can I define short term markers?)
How difficult is this goal? (will it challenge me without being unattainable?)
Am I actually committed to this goal? (or do I need to reevaluate some element of my goal?)
If you would like help in defining your goals, or setting effective goals, click above to schedule a time for us to chat, FREE of charge.