Many have made their 2017 goals. Some are still going strong, some have dwindled and some never really got started.
Many have health related goals; to lose weight, get fit, tone up, take on their first marathon. Acknowledging you want to make that change is the first step, then comes the HOW???
These goals need to be:
S specific
M measurable
A achievable
R realistic
T time-bound
Lets say for example, you want to complete my first triathlon (which I did back in 2012)
SPECIFIC – complete my first triathlon
MEASURABLE – Sign up for a triathlon and do it
ACHIEVABLE – how am I going to achieve this? Options… go to the gym, review my diet, get a personal trainer, join a triathlon club, practise all disciplines. Ie if you can’t swim, get a swim coach. Can I afford the equipment and training. Do I have my families support?
REALISTIC – is this possible? YES! There are varied distances. Sign up for the shorter Sprint or Olympic distance and build on this. Signing up for a full 140.3 mile Ironman distance with no current fitness may be a little ambitious. Break down your big goal into smaller achievable goals.
TIMING – Do I have the time? Maybe I could train before work and go to bed earlier…
Here are some tips to achieving the success you want. This can be applied to many elements of your life: career, relationship, happiness…
- Visualise yourself achieving your goal
- Start now
- Start small and build
- Give yourself a day off
- Identify any barriers ie time, lack of knowledge and create solutions now
- Suround yourself with like-minded people, we are social specimens. Doing this with someone will be so much easier and will create accountability as well as some healthy competition;0)
- Review and if somethings not working, change it, get help, ask for advice!
- Be kind to yourself
- If you fall off the bandwagon – that’s fine, push the reset button and pick yourself back up again
- Take up something new
- Break things down. Do bit by bit and stay patient.
As a personal trainer I see clients super eager at the start of January, then again in May. It’s my job to help make the transition as smooth as possible and as enjoyable as possible so they keep coming back. Its a lifestyle change not a temporary fix. It can be as enjoyable as you want to make it or as awful, it comes down to your own attitude. You don’t need to give up anything or sacrifice anything, as soon as you make something forbidden, guess what?? It makes it more desirable.
When we look at health related goals, you need to understand its about changing habits bit by bit until it becomes a way of life. Make a plan of action. Turn your goals into something positive, a new skill. Learn to enjoy the journey of reaching your goals and have fun with it!
Hope you enjoyed my post!