Setting and revisiting goals is a key part of growing. You know the old cliche, “ Without a goal, you’re headed nowhere fast?” It kinda rings true though, doesn’t it?
Setting a goal aligns focus and can instigate a new behavior- hopefully a good, new behavior. There is also the notion that focusing on what you want to achieve provides a foundation of motivation. I’m not referring to motivation as the ‘feeling’; I am referring to motivation as the ‘why’. The ‘why’ is the reason you show up and do the work, even when it’s not a particularly motivating day.
Let’s just say you go to the supermarket without a list or any idea of what you need to buy. What are the chances that you get home with the foods that you need and none of the foods that you don’t? Now let’s say you looked through the pantry, thought about meals for the week, and made a list of things you needed before you went to the grocery store. It’s comical how much more successful that shopping trip would be. I know it’s a silly example, but it applies to so many aspects of our daily lives. When you signed up to be a member of the CrossFit gym, or the Tuesday night running club or dropped in at for a yoga class- it was probably some version of, ‘I want to be fitter, healthier, take care of my body, etc.’
In order to follow through with what you want- you should set a goal.
A specific goal.
Do you want to be fitter? Strategically think through how many days of the week you are going to train at the gym, then commit to challenging yourself and seek knowledge about your fitness. Gather the resources you need in order to be successful. #knowyourgoal
You'll Never Accomplish a Goal That You Don't Really Care About
So you have a goal.
Next, the question you should ask yourself is why?
Why do you want it?
Something that I have committed my life to and enjoy most is the genuine pursuit of fitness and wellness. This means that I am constantly finding things that I enjoy about fitness, always learning new things as research evolves with nutrition and supplements, and want to always hold myself accountable to doing the hard work to achieve. The why? Simple. I want to still be able to enjoy life in my old age; I want to avoid disease when and where possible; I want to be capable of jumping in on any adventure.
Enough about me- what is your why? Do you want to overcome your predisposition to type-2 diabetes? Are you someone who experiences recurring injuries, and wants to end that cycle? Are you intimidated by a CrossFit competition, marathon, or Ironman and want the confidence to tackle something prestigious?
Be motivated by something truly great… your own passions.
Now, commit to it. A goal isn’t everything though, you've got to get to the action items- in fact, you can set yourself up for success by outlining the steps to reach any goal. These include:
Learn how to get to the finish line
Create a plan
Commit to the process &
Have a coach keep you on track
Let's Get Back to Nutrition- After all, I am a Nutritionist...
Oftentimes, my clients come to me and have a goal. Once we establish their motivation, it’s time to commit. Part of commitment is drawing up a plan, strategy, and structure. Challenges come when you don’t feel like doing it. Support is there to guide you back on track with your motivation. What about the day you have questions, or seek knowledge? A coach is there to teach you and navigate challenges. What about the day you cheat on yourself? An accountability partner puts the wheels back on and keeps the wagon going forward.
Make it Happen-
Grab a pen and jot down what your goals are. If you can’t rattle them off, maybe you need to visit step 1- think about what you want to achieve. In the same way, jot down what motivates you. It can be simple. Now, what do you need to put into place in order to achieve your goal, or at the very least- begin moving in that direction?
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