Set Goals? Why?

Goal setting is the first step toward successful goal achievement. It marks your first point toward success and what put you into real action mode. So today we are going to talk about why it is so important to set goals.

I think we all know people who have a passive approach toward life. They don’t set any goals and they just live life on a day-to-day basis and wonder why they never got the big job they wanted, why they hate going to work or why they have always been (and will always be) 'fat'. You see them 1 year, 3 years, 5 years from now, and their lives are largely the same, save for a few changes that are really more the result of luck than anything else. This happens because they want something to change... but they never decide exactly what they want to change, why they want to change it or how they are going to change it.

Setting your goals gives you clarity on what you ultimately want and more importantly the reasons and motivations of why you want it. A great example is "I want to lose weight" that is a great goal... but why do you want to lose weight? How much weight do you want to lose? Is there an outfit your looking to get back in to? Do you need more energy to play with your kids? Do you want to reduce knee pain brought on by carrying extra weight? Knowing the true motivation can help you keep on track and help you create your strategies to meet your goals. It also acts as a reminder of the true reasons why your trying to reach the goal you've set for yourself which comes in especially handy on those days when your stressed, tired, and that goal is the last thing on your mind.

Setting goals also helps you stay focused which helps keep your goal top of mind. Lets take our friend who wants to lose weight. If they didn't have a specific goal it would be very easy for them to stay on the couch on a Sunday night instead of taking the time to prepare their healthy meals for the next day. But if they are focused on their goal they will make sure that they take the time to do what needs to be done to reach their goal - getting up, packing healthy foods in tupperware, filling a water bottle, etc.... instead of staying on the couch and then getting fast food the next day because they didn't take the time they should have.

Having goals also makes you accountable to yourself. Only you will know if your sticking to your plan for reaching your goal. But you WILL know. Its making sure you get your 4 workouts in per week and spend the time making meals instead of eating out, and doing everything you planned to inorder to make your goal reality.

I hope today's talk has helped you realise why goal setting is so important in helping you reach your goals. Tomorrow we will talk about exactly how you go about setting SMART goals and how to make them a priority in already busy lives.

Stay Healthy!

Andrea :)