Goals: It’s That Time of Year

By December 30, 2019Uncategorized

New Year’s Resolution Time! That annual event where many of us figuratively get in a starting position to run the next lap around the track for another year. There are those among us that will set goals for the year ahead. You will see some of those people at a local gym in January. Some of them will vanish by March 1. At least they had a good start to the race around the calendar.

There are many different categories for those goal-setters to choose from. There are academic goals, work goals, athletic/fitness goals, psychological goals, relationship goals, among other personal goals. There are athletic teams in-season or workplace teams that re-evaluate their current situation and set or adjust team goals. There are out-of-season teams whereby the coach might suggest training goals for the next few months.

Here are some recommendations for those of you that partake in goal setting:

  1. Set S. M. A. R. T. Goals: These goals should be…
    Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound
    Fitness Goal Example:
    I will exercise 3 times a week for 45 minutes for the next 3 months and then re-evaluate my exercise program. Before and after each session I will do a series of specific warm-up stretches. During each session I will do the elliptical machine for 25 minutes, 25 push-ups, x number of sit-ups, a specific # of upper body weights with dumbbells (specified weight and reps determined).Athletic Psychological Goal Example (not fully measurable):
    I will show emotional control when I face adversity during the upcoming contest.
    This goal is specific, not definitively measurable, attainable, relevant, time-specific.
  2. Write down your goals.
  3. Review your goals periodically to see if you are meeting them (i. e. weekly; monthly).
  4. Re-evaluate your goals periodically, and adjust them when necessary.

The biggest downfall in goal setting is so many people leave it at that. Many people set goals but they don’t monitor and re-evaluate (#3, 4) them as time goes on. Hold yourself accountable by doing the hard part. The hard part is to take action and stay with it and then do the periodic evaluation and adjustment. Best wishes ahead in 2020.

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