BY GREG LARAIA, ATC
Goals are one of my favorite things to talk about! In fact, I think talking about your goals with each other is the first step to success. Don’t keep your goals a secret; speak about your goals with other people to keep yourself accountable and to receive valuable input. Your goals usually won’t pop into your head unprompted; goals take time to put together, and they should be meaningful. Keep reading for my tips on how to set yourself up for success.
When I’m setting goals, my first step is to write them down. When you’re brainstorming, come up with a variety; some should be goals you know you can achieve, and some should be a stretch. That may seem scary, but this is key. If your goals are small, your growth will be small as well. Ask yourself “how is this goal going to make me better?” If you have a hard time answering that question, it’s time to re-assess. Can you do more? Go further? Push yourself.
That being said, it’s important to push yourself in a realistic way.. Pushing yourself beyond your limits can lead to disappointment, unwanted stress, and even injury! If your goal is going from a 5k to a marathon in 2 months, you’re going to need to re-evaluate. Some things to consider: how much time do you have to devote to your goal? What’s your current fitness level? Do you enjoy the work that it’s going to take to achieve this goal? All of these things affect your chances of succeeding.
There are a bunch of acronyms for goal-setting strategies. Truthfully, I don’t think one is better than the other; it’s very dependent on personality. Some of the acronyms include:
- S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Based
- C.L.E.A.R.
Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, Refinable
- D.U.M.B.
Doable, Understandable, Methodical, Behavior Driven
- M.A.P.
Meaning, Anchor, Planning
- P.I.E.
Planning, Implementing, Evaluating
Whatever strategy you use, Custom Performance is always here to help you achieve your goals. Go out there and crush 2020!