The Power Of Goal Setting
Motivation is a barrier for many – and one of the best tips is to set a goal or a challenge. Find out more here.
Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, explores how goal setting can help to improve motivation.
Motivation is a barrier for many people – and one of the best tips I can give around this is to set yourself a goal or a challenge.
Having a goal to reach not only keeps me focussed and accountable, but it also makes me feel energised. Goal setting also encourages us to take that first step, which is often the hardest one to take.
The goal you set for yourself will be unique to you. It might be to lose weight, or to run 5km. Perhaps it’s around food, and committing to cook homemade meals every night, or focusing on your mental health and carving out time for self-care. Maybe it’s to increase your strength and the weights you lift, or to try to exercise 3 times a week.
The key to goal setting is to make these goals realistic and achievable.
Setting your goals
Goals can be short-term or long-term. A short-term goal might be to be able to learn how to do a headstand. It could be to up your weights for strength training, try meditating once a day for a week, or commit to doing a certain amount of workouts in one month.
Smaller, or shorter-term goals often feel manageable and realistic – and the energy boost you get from achieving them will have a really positive impact on your mood. Have a think: what small goal would you like to set for yourself this month, or this week? What do you need to do to achieve that?
Longer-term goals – like losing weight or running a marathon – may feel slightly more overwhelming. Try not to focus too much on the bigger picture or the end goal. Sometimes, these long-term goals can start to feel so far away and unobtainable that it can stop you from actually starting your journey.
Take each day as it comes and ask yourself: what can I do today that is a small step in the right direction? The small actions you take each day may seem insignificant, but they add up. Step by step, one day at a time, you’ll be making progress towards your goal.
When you focus on the present day and you win some of these small decisions, it all starts to feel much more manageable.
Committing to your goals
Once you’ve set yourself a goal, write it down, commit to achieving it, be consistent, and enjoy the journey.
I like to write my goal down or share it with other people, as it makes me more accountable. Could you share with your family and friends? Could you write it down somewhere where you’ll see it every day?
Achieving goals can take time. Often, people will want to see changes or progress quickly, but it might take weeks or months of consistency to see the changes you’re hoping for. Commitment is key here – it’s about showing up, even when it feels tough.
Don’t forget to celebrate your progress and your wins! Acknowledge all of your achievements during the journey, no matter how big or small.
Remember, make your goals realistic but challenging – and commit to them.
Let’s smash our goals together! Good luck.
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