Setting goals and working toward them is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and can help you succeed in many areas of your life. The path toward achieving a goal is not always fun or easy, but having goals – big and small – keeps you motivated to continue the daily grind. Are you thinking about one of your goals now? Do you have several?
It’s okay if you’re not a naturally goal-oriented person. Setting goals is something you can start doing at any point in your life. We’re happy to share some tips on the process!
Step 1: Envision Your Goal
The secret to creating goals is in the title of this blog: It takes a vision. There should be no shame in having big dreams, because the first step toward accomplishing anything in life is envisioning it being a reality.
Start by choosing one area of your “Wellness Triangle” you’d like to focus on – fitness, nutrition, or mindset. Then think of something you want to do or work toward. Would you love to go vegan? Squat 400 pounds? Learn to cook for your family? Overcome your gymtimidation? It can be a big or small, long or short-term thing, as long as it’s something that you’re excited about doing for yourself.
Step 2: Figure Out Your “Why”
Align your goals with your purpose. Ask yourself why you want to accomplish this goal, and really try to dig deep to understand what is motivating you. If you come up with a superficial reason like “To fit into a smaller clothing size,” spend a little more time with your thoughts. Ask why again. Your answer might be: “So I can feel more attractive.” Ask why again – what would being more attractive do for your life? It may take some time, but if you push yourself, you will arrive at your ultimate reason for pursuing your goal.
This step so important! If you only work on the physical part of yourself without addressing the mental aspect, it will be much harder to maintain any progress you achieve.
Step 3: Write It Down
Did you know you’re more likely to stick to a goal if you write it down? Journaling is a great habit to have anyway, so write it down – all of it. Write about your goal, your why, and when you’d like to have achieved your goal. Reflect on how you think you’ll feel once you get there and how you think it will affect your life. Try to write about what you want, not what you don’t want. For example: write “I want to be able to feel confident in a swimsuit,” rather than “I don’t want to feel embarrassed at the beach anymore.”
Bonus tip: Tell someone. This also seems to increase the likelihood that you’ll stick to your goal.
Step 4: Break It Down
Be real with yourself – you’re not going to be able to do this overnight. Accept that achieving your goals is a process, and commit to putting in the work! Then start breaking down your goal into smaller, more achievable steps will help you on the way to achieving your bigger dream.
This is especially helpful when your goal is sort of vague, such as “I want to eat healthier.” Breaking this down will help you be more specific. A smaller goal could be “Pack a healthy lunch every day this month” or “Sign up for a meal planning service.” Be sure to write down your smaller goals and set timelines for them too. You’ll feel great every time you check one of them off the list!
Step 5: Plan Your First Step
You have to start somewhere! Thinking about how to approach the first step toward your goal will help you get started. If you’re not sure what the first step is, the internet is your friend – look it up! Thousands of people have been in your shoes, and there’s a community of people waiting to offer advice and lift you up.
Once you’ve planned your first step, think of your next step. Repeat! Mentally prepare yourself for roadblocks and plan how you will overcome them.
Step 6: Follow Through
This is obviously the hardest part of the process because it requires a lot of discipline. And no matter how determined you may be in the beginning, there are going to be times when you want to give up. Because of this, we are firm believers that having a support system is vital. If you set goals and don’t share them with anyone, it feels like less of a big deal if you don’t follow through because you’re the only person who knew about your goal. When you let others be a part of your journey, they help keep you accountable and motivated.
Step 7: Celebrate
When you reach your goal, reward yourself in a life-affirming way. Do something for yourself that makes you feel positive and hopeful about the future, such as getting a massage, treating yourself to new workout apparel, or going away for the weekend with loved ones.
Want Help Chasing Your Goals?
Get the motivation you need to succeed from people who are experiencing the same journey you’re on! From the moment you join the Envision Fitness community, you gain a group of friends who will pick you up when you’re down, encourage you to push harder, and applaud your success. We only ask that you do the same in return.
Get started on your path to a healthier life – schedule a free 90-minute consultation with a personal trainer by calling 952-444-2791, or fill out our online form here.