Set Goals That Keep You Excited

Another new year has arrived, people's minds absorbed in their go. The only issue is that most of them won't remember what those resolutions were in about a month. Getting all excited over positive changes in life is good, but it doesn't get too far without a solid action plan. The comfort
zone of already settled life will suck you right back in. Does that mean you should give up an idea to come of it?

Personally, I don't expect anyone to plunge into a whole world of unknown. Instead, I'd prefer to expand already existing comfort zone by embracing changes and turning them into habits that you're comfortable with. Here are the strategies to set up goals that call you for action every day and make you get off your bed with a smile on your face:

Tip#1: Set 3 goals at a time.
Commit to only 3 goals at a time max: this way you can actually focus on what you need to do instead of bouncing from one objective to another. For example:

1. Gain 15 lbs of muscle;
2. Drop Body Fat to 8%;
3. Learn to play guitar.

Once you have all three down, start achieving them. Do not set new goals unless you achieved all three.

Keep in mind that these goals don't have to be only focused on fitness: these can as well be your financial, personal, business or any other goal that is important at this moment.

Tip#2: Make your goals specific.

An absolute majority of people that I sit down with for a consultation and talk about what they want to achieve in their fitness, give me something like:"I just want to be healthy/fit/toned etc...", which makes me certain in only one thing: they have no clue what they want. These people are relying on their emotions: they imagine their ultimate 'dream body' or 'well-being' in their heads, but emotions come and go, and same people will wake up the next day oblivious of how to get there. That's why it's important to set up a solid path you want to take. Fail to plan means plan to fail, right? You should set up objectives that are measurable, as precise as possible, make sure they are realistic, and set an attainable deadline for them: Ex. "I want to lose 10 lbs of fat in 5 weeks".

Tip#3: Keep your goals in clear view

Write down your goals on a piece of paper (by hand) and post it somewhere you could frequently see it (eg. fridge, mirror, work desk, computer screen etc.). This way you will keep them in your focus as a reminder what all the work is for.

Tip#4: Hire a specialist

If you want to learn to play musical instrument, you hire a tutor. If you want to excel in the business you start, you hire a business advisor. And if you want to accomplish your fitness or athletic objectives, you'll need a personal trainer or a strength coach. There's no shame in asking for help from someone who is an expert in a given field, as you'll need someone to keep you accountable, someone who can motivate, educate, and provide you with all the right tools for success.

Tip#5: Acknowledge and reward

Besides a long term goal, you (and/or your coach) should be setting up short term goals as well. Consider them as checkpoints on your journey. This will help you to stay motivated and focus on something tangible in the next 3-4 weeks, as oppose to 6-12 months from now. Come up with some kind of reward to give yourself once you reach that mini-objective. It could be anything from a cheat meal, to allowing yourself to buy something you wanted. This way you'll train your mind to anticipate reward, and develop the mindset of a winner.


Trainer Val