So I figured it would be a good time to reflect on my journey. My journey hasn’t ended, but reflecting back makes me realise how far I’ve come and how much I have achieved.
The other reason is that I thought that it would be a good idea to do this post so others who are starting out have and idea of:
- Just what is possible.
- To dream big.
- But to have some sort of road map.
Just remember your journey will be different, but if we don’t have a map how do we know which way to go.
Now I initially thought that I would have all of this in one post, but it’s going to be way too much information, so I’m going to break it down into parts.
How this all started was because the other day I was going through my bookshelf trying to find an envelope. I didn’t find the envelope but I did find a notebook. A notebook that only had a few pages filled, but was filled with a ton of goals. Which brings me to the 1st thing on my “What I’ve learnt” list.
1. Set Goals
For many of us we set goals on the 1st of Jan, and then Feb rolls around and then we are like “well I didn’t achieve anything”, and so we give up.
That use to be me. And I bet that use to to be you. I say use to, cause well that’s not you any more.
The problem with goal setting is, that most people know how to set goals, just not how to achieve them.
Start setting SMART goals.
| S | Specific | Significant, stretching, simple |
| M | Measurable | Motivational, manageable, meaningful |
| A | Attainable | Appropriate, achievable, agreed, assignable, actionable, adjustable, ambitious, aligned, aspirational, acceptable, action-focused |
| R | Relevant | Result-based, results-oriented, resourced, resonant, realistic |
| T | Time-bound | Time-oriented, time framed, timed, time-based, timeboxed, time-specific, timetabled, time limited, trackable, tangible |
So that goal you have, write it down (if you haven’t already), and break it down. Pull it apart. Dissect it until you know it inside and out.
Then go and learn everything you can and need to know about how to achieve that goal. Brain dump it. Write it all down. Every single little bit. All of it, whether you think it’s big or small, doesn’t matter, put it down, on paper.
See these list of goals. They were mine. I say were, because of the 18 goals I wrote down (dated May 2012), I achieved 10 of them. What happened with the other 8. Well my priorities changed, and so the goals changed. This happens. Doesn’t mean you have failed, it just means something else was of more importance, and so the goals change.
This is why I write down my goals every week. Yep weekly. Not only does it help to reinforce your goal, but when you achieve your goal, it gets replaced with a new one.
So start setting goals. Doesn’t matter how big or small, all that matters is, if it’s important to you write it down.
What goals do you have? How is that goal progressing? When do you hope to achieve it?
Feel free to write a little or a lot, and share the love.
Congratulations on meeting your goals!! Your post is inspirational, yet practical as you have shown all of us that it takes dedication to make things happen. Way to go!! Here from the Fitness Friday link up :).
Glad you liked the post.
I say if I can just inspire just one person to help themselves get better, happier and more content, then my job is done. (kwim).
Thanks for the post reply too.
goal setting is so important! Especially specific measurable goals like you have. too many people set goals either too easy to achieve or ones that are so vague there is nothing measurable about them. my current goal is to run a 3:00:00 marathon, which is going to be a process in getting there, it is also providing a lot of ups and downs in the process but anything worth doing should continue to challenge us and not be so easy.
Goals are essential for me. They are like to do lists. I am a runner and always trying to I prove endurance, speed and fitness. A few of my next goals include increasing my endurance, increasing my speed for both the 5K and half marathon, reducing my body fat, completing my first full marathon in 2014.
I only really discovered goal setting in the last 2.5 years. And yeah they are like my to-do lists too. In fact in my to-do lists I have tasks specific to help me reach my goals.
So your reply is totally up my alley cause your train of thought/thinking process is just like mine.
Good luck with your marathon, you’re going to totally rock it.
I have two goals this year, one to complete an ultra run by June. The second target is to complete the Spartan Trifecta. Without these goals I wouldn’t be out pushing my body to its limit. 🙂
They are great goals. What’s the distance for your ultra?
I wont be running an ultra anytime soon, but I do plan on running 28km (the distance from Halls Gap to Stawell) as a fundraiser. I haven’t run further than 21.1km, so it will be a new record for me.
Having a done a Tough Mudder, you’ll love the Spartan, well I know I would.
Thanks for the reply post.
Goals are super important…I need to write mine down…great idea…following you now via the FF link up!
HI Shannon, thanks for posting.
If I don’t write down my goal, it’s just a wish. When it’s down on paper, then it happens.
Great goal setting tips.
Excellent advice with the goal setting. I found that once I had goals and a solid plan in place this year, I wasn’t ‘floating’ around so much. Well done hun!
Achieving goals never came easy to me. But once I understood what I had to do, it’s a whole new process.