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Effective Goal Setting
Goal setting needs to be a part of any fitness program. Here are six guidelines for effective goal setting.
1. Goals must be specific. Many people set goals that are vague, such as "I want to lose weight"
or "I want to get in shape." Vague goals don’t generate results. A goal has to be specific enough so you know
exactly what you're striving for. "I will lose 20 pounds in three months" is an example of a specific goal.
2. Goals must be measurable. You have to be able to determine whether or not you're making progress
toward a goal. You also have to be able to determine when you've achieved a goal.
3. Goals must be attainable. Many people set goals that are unrealistic, and then give up on their
fitness program out of frustration. Goals must be challenging but also attainable. If you're new to fitness,
set moderately challenging goals. If you reach your goals earlier than expected, you can set more ambitious
goals.
4. Goals must have time frames. A time frame creates a sense of urgency and keeps you focused on
a goal. Divide goals into long-term, short-term and daily goals. A long-term goal should cover three to six
months. It should be a goal that really motivates you, something that's out of reach at the moment but that
can be accomplished eventually. A short-term goal should cover one week to one month. A short-term goal keeps
you motivated and lets you know if you're moving in the right direction. A daily goal will give you a feeling
of accomplishment and keep your momentum going. If you don't accomplish a goal in a given time frame, don't
think of it as a failure. You just underestimated the time frame required to accomplish the goal. Adjust your
time frame to make it more realistic.
5. Goals must have emotion tied to them. Determining the reason why you want to achieve a goal and
why that's important to you adds emotion to a goal. And the more emotion you have, the more motivated you'll
be. Getting emotionally involved with a goal impresses it deeper into your subconscious mind, and whatever idea
is fixed in your subconscious mind will always express itself in behavior.
6. Goals must be written down. A written goal brings clarity and focus and gives you a direction.
A written goal is also a powerful reminder that you can use to keep yourself on track. Start each written goal
with "I" as this will make the goal more personal and empowering. Write goals in the positive, not the negative.
Focus on what you hope to achieve, not what you want to leave behind. Review your written goals on a regular
basis and update them as needed. Regularly reviewing your goals is an effective way to penetrate and program
your subconscious mind.
As you can see, effective goal setting does not have to be difficult. Anyone can create a strong set of goals
by following the right guidelines.
Recommended Resource
GoalPro is the finest goal
setting software on the market. GoalPro provides you with all the tools you need to define, maintain, track and
achieve your goals. Click here to learn more about GoalPro goal setting software
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