Many people would like to exercise more often, lose weight, eat healthier, or adopt better sleeping habits. Yet despite their best intentions, time goes by, and they see little or no improvement in their lifestyle. Does this happen to you too? The explanation is simple. To achieve anything, you have to set realistic, measurable goals that take into consideration your strengths and vulnerabilities.
Read on to discover how to set better goals and stick to them so you can progress in all areas of your life, including health and wellness.
Having clearly defined goals is a critical part of progress because you want to know exactly what your destination is. Otherwise, you cannot calculate how much effort you should expend or how long it will take you to get there. A significant cause of stagnation is setting vague goals and going back and forth on your decisions. But a clearly defined goal can give you momentum.
It also helps you break your journey into smaller, more manageable parts so you won’t get overwhelmed. If you want to start exercising, for example, it’s not enough to get a gym membership. Many people pay for the gym but never go. So, set the precise date and time for the next couple of gym sessions and add them to your calendar as priority tasks.
A key reason why many people don’t achieve their goals is that they underestimate their weaknesses and overestimate their strengths. Each of us has particular vulnerabilities that hold us back. Some people get easily distracted and are prone to procrastination. Others get stuck in the analysis phase.
Moreover, different personalities react differently to stress. Some thrive when faced with a new challenge, others get stressed and overwhelmed. Identifying your weaknesses is vital because it helps you set better goals, perfectly adapted to your personality type. Are you a problem-solving realist? You might be an istj, so learn more about istj weaknesses before setting your next goal.
To find the motivation to stick to your goals, conduct periodic evaluations of your progress. Perhaps you can break an important goal into several milestones or set benchmarks. For example, if you want to lose weight and have a specific number in mind, write down every week how much weight you’ve lost.
Performing these regular check-ins will allow you to identify the things that hold you back so you can get back on track. Reflect on what you’ve been doing. Was there something specific that stopped you from reaching a milestone? Should you revise your plan or continue as before? Tracking your progress is an essential step towards success.
No matter how appealing a goal might seem, make sure it fits into your life before committing to it. To achieve a goal, you need physical, mental, and sometimes even financial resources. Look at your goals realistically and determine how they fit within your current life. Don’t set goals that cause you to stress and make you feel pressured, as this is likely to lead to a decrease in motivation. Calculate how much time you have in your day for working towards your goals.
Consider your personality and your lifestyle when setting goals. You’ll gain motivation and avoid unnecessary stress.
[…] helpful. Choosing a sport or type of exercise that feels good and setting yourself some goals to work towards can be a great way to take your mind off some of the other things going on in […]
Reply