Goals are good. Actually, goals are great! You want to have goals in your life, especially when they involve your health and fitness. Goals help us get inspired and motivated to change our current behavior. They help us get into a gym, but this is usually where it stops.
Most of us find that though we’ve set well-intentioned goals, it doesn’t carry us over the finish line. Life gets crazy and sends curveballs that distract us, make it harder, or even lead us to quit altogether!
So How Do You Set Goals for Success?
It starts with examining where your goals are derived from and how they’re worded. Here are some examples of goals that usually don’t translate into wins:
- I want to look good in a bikini this summer.
- I want abs like Madonna.
- I want to lose weight so I get more attention from my girlfriend.
The reason these goals typically don’t translate into wins is because they are:
- Lack specificity, especially in terms of a date and results
- Involve comparison and/or body shaming
- Based on external reasons rather than internal desire
Instead of setting goals this way, try wording action-oriented goals, such as:
- I will squat twice a week to increase the weight by 40 pounds by Christmas.
- I will run a marathon by February 2016.
- I will go to the gym three times a week and begin taking yoga classes once a week.
The reason these goals translate into wins is because they have the following qualities:
- They are action-oriented and include specific steps to achieve the goal.
- Instead of saying “I want,” you are saying “I will.” This turns your desire into a confident and positive statement.
- They don’t compare you to anyone else. They are personally derived and celebrate your unique desires and individual traits. By focusing on developing skills or improving upon a certain area for yourself only, you’ll be more likely to stick to the goal and enjoy the process!
Ultimately, it’s good to set goals no matter the form. But if you want to set goals for success, it might be time to reshape the wording and focus of your goals. Get specific, create manageable steps and set a tone of confidence, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving any goal you set out to conquer!
