It’s spring time! Spring is a great time for spring cleaning, refreshing, and resetting. What better way to do that than by setting some goals for yourself! Goal setting seems simple: “Pick something I want to do, and that’s my goal!”. To have a goal that will motivate you to complete it, the process takes a bit more time than that. Many people have heard of SMART goal setting, which is an acronym saying that your goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. This can be a very useful tool to start out with, but after making that goal, what happens? Let’s say I want to run a half marathon by the end of June. I’ve created a specific goal, and it is measurable (I will know when I have run the distance of a half marathon). It is attainable because I have been running regularly for months, and relevant because I would like to improve my cardiovascular fitness. It is timely because it is not so far out that I won’t be able to focus on it, but it is not so close that I won’t be able to get to the distance in time without hurting myself. So… reaching this goal should be easy, right?
I only wish it were that easy! This is a goal that I am currently working towards and I can tell you, completing my SMART goal has not been enough to keep me motivated and confident in completing this challenge. I have had to start much smaller since running a marathon isn’t just about my body getting used to the distances required. For many goals that you have, the more you think about it, the more you may realize that actually acquiring the skill involved to reach your goal is not the biggest part. I think of my goals like a pyramid. Right at the top is my goal: running a half marathon. I am at the bottom and need to find my way there: how? I use process goals and smaller outcome goals as building blocks so that with every good habit I build, I am one step closer to my ultimate goal! Things like drinking enough water throughout the day, stretching at least twice a week, strength training twice a week, healthy eating, knowing when to rest, tracking my workouts and perceived efforts. None of these things involve me putting my running shoes on and jogging through the park, but they are all necessary for me to reach my goal in a healthy and sustainable way.
Now, I know not everyone’s goal is to run a half marathon, but the idea remains. If you have a goal you want to reach, don’t just have tunnel vision on how to get there. Look at your lifestyle habits, look at what will support you in reaching your goal and enjoying the journey, keeping you motivated when you are feeling like giving up. If you have any questions or don’t know where to start, reach out to us at info@drivenperformancept.com for a session with our Mental Performance Consultant to talk about what your goals are and how we can start using those building blocks to get you there!
