Goals – They are Important!

Today's contribution was submitted by Kayla Kelly, BS, NETA-GFI - Wellness Manager from Corporate Health Unlimited. 

 

Goals are the stepping stones in finding success. Having goals for what we want to do in life, and working towards them is very important. The path towards our goals may not always be easy, but if we stay on track, it will always be rewarding. Goals come in all different shapes and sizes, and can be short term or long term.

 

By now I am sure you have heard about S.M.A.R.T. goals. Let us break down what that means in a simple way.

 

S - make your goals SPECIFIC

  • your goal needs to be clear and well defined 
  • generic or vague goals don't help because they don't provide direction

"I am going to work out 3 times each week for 6 weeks." 

 

M - make your goals MEASURABLE 

  • your goal needs to include precise amounts, dates, timelines, etc.

"Day 1 I jogged a mile in 16 minutes. In 6 weeks I am going to jog 1 mile in less than 14 minutes."

 

A - make your goals ATTAINABLE 

  • you must set goals that you are able to meet
  • work towards a goal that is challenging, but possible.

"Over the next 8 weeks I am going to practice push-ups every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday by doing as many as I can each day."

 

R - make your goals REALISTIC 

  • you need to give yourself goals that align with what you are trying to achieve in life
  • when you give yourself unrealistic goals, you’re setting yourself up for a world of stress, frustration, and anxiety. It won’t take long for the stress to build and eventually crush your motivation.

"I am going to meet with a personal trainer 2 times per week for 30 minutes each session to help me stay on track."

 

T - put a TIME limit on your goals

  • give your goals a deadline so you can celebrate your success
  • having a deadline creates urgency and focus

"I am going to lose 5 lbs by October 6th."

 

When you are creating your goals the easiest place to start is with the WHY?  Ask yourself why do I want to make a change? Why is this important to me? Continue to visit the why on your journey to keep you focused and to remind you of why you started.

 

Make sure you put your goals in writing, and you share them with those close to you. The physical act of writing down your goal makes it tangible and real. Empower yourself by using words such as "I will" when creating goals. Stay positive and remember you can do it!