Do you have clear-cut goals in your life? If not, it may be time to set some. When you start creating a path towards personal growth, you’re giving yourself a roadmap to follow, to move you forward in life and help you accomplish the things you truly want to achieve. Your goals clarify your priorities and help you live the life you want to live. Why are they so important? And how can you set benchmarks for yourself that are actually attainable? We have some tips for you.
Goal setting may seem like a boring thing to do, but it doesn’t have to be! When you set the right goals, you can trigger new behaviors that boost your momentum and help propel you forward in life. Numerous studies have linked setting goals with achievement, with one showing that people who write down what they hope to achieve and share them with a friend tend to be, on average, 33 percent more successful at actually achieving their goals. Doesn’t that make the process feel more exciting already?
Having a goal can shape your success. How? Goals help you stay focused on the tasks you need to be completing. They allow you to track your progress, and they keep you motivated, helping you avoid procrastination. Because if you want to see personal growth, that requires you analyze what you want to accomplish and create a strategy to help to get there, you’ll achieve more. When you accomplish something on the path toward your goal, you’ll feel the thrill of victory, and you’ll want more. The result? Success will promote success, and you’ll sustain your momentum as you work towards your goal.
To achieve your goals, make them SMART. You’ve probably heard this before, but it bears repeating. Using the acronym SMART, you can set goals that are specific and achievable, thus giving you the push you need to succeed.
Specific: A vague goal is not helpful. How can you make a plan to get somewhere if you’re not exactly sure where you’re going? Try starting your goal with a verb, to clarify what action you intend to take.
Measurable: How much? How often? How many? When your goal is measurable, it makes it easier to track your progress along the way. Your goal might be “I will lose 10 pounds in six months, by exercising five times each week.” That’s a goal that can be tracked in two different ways, by the weight you’ve lost and the number of times you’ve worked out.
Achievable: If your goal does not align with your skills and abilities, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Make sure you set benchmarks you can reach with the right amount of effort, or you’ll end up discouraged.
Realistic: How much time and effort will you realistically be able to commit to this goal? What’s within your grasp to achieve? “I will lose 10 pounds in two weeks by working out three times a day” is unlikely to be a realistic goal.
Time-bound: We all need deadlines to keep us on track. Don’t just set a goal for next year, decide what you’ll achieve by next week, and what you’ll do tomorrow to make it happen. Propel yourself forward by breaking your goals into manageable steps and holding yourself to the constraints of a timetable.
At the Wellbridge Family of Athletic Clubs, we’re all about helping you become your best self and live your best life. That’s why we offer world-class training that keeps up to date with the latest in health and wellness. At our clubs, you’ll be greeted by our friendly team before you’re challenged and motivated by top-notch instructors in our fitness classes. You’ll make new friends because you belong here. Join today or contact us to learn more.