By nature, I'm into setting extreme goals, like I'm going to run 5-miles every morning, only eat fruits, veggies and lean protein, read for an hour a day, pray for an hour a day, pick up a new client everyday, volunteer everyday for 4 hours, put $200 into savings every week...starting all at once...ready go!
But... the more I learn and experience and practice, the more I understand that to move forward it's a matter of setting small, reasonable, achievable goals. Why set a goal that is so ridiculous, you set yourself up to lose? Goals are meant to stretch you, but they are also intended to be hit.
Many times, I have set up one of my extreme plans, only to falter on day 1 and really never move much past that. To move forward, you must set small, sometimes seemingly insignificant goals, and do the action consistently.
Recently, I created a habit in my business of educating myself and taking action toward helping others achieve their goals, daily. It took me about 3.5 rounds of a 21-day challenge to become consistently consistent. Some days I accomplish way more than others, but the point is, I accomplish something everyday or am very aware of the fact that I didn't.
Keeping this same criteria in mind, I decided to set a 21-day health goal. My plan is to start every morning with a green smoothie and the workout pictured. Now, I may have another green smoothie throughout the day, and 4-5 days per week, I will be doing my regular work out (right now training for a half marathon). But the point is to start my day healthy and active.
Today is day two. This morning it was early and cold and I really wanted scrambled eggs. There is nothing wrong with scrambled eggs for breakfast, but that isn't my goal right now. I can have scrambled eggs for breakfast number two or even for dinner, but my goal is to start the day with a green smoothie. I made a delicious smoothie with spinach, a banana, mixed berries and a tablespoon of almonds. It was delicious. Already on day two, I almost compromised my morning workout, because I am running 8-miles later. But..I did it anyways, truthfully in the middle of writing this post. How can I write about this, if I'm compromising my own goals!
Top Tips for Goal Setting
So the key is, set yourself up to do something doable.
Make it something you can do regularly.
Put the goal in front of you.
Figure out why you are doing it and put a picture of that goal in front of you.
Find a way to hold yourself accountable.
Take action daily.
Remember that you may not be perfect at first, but each day to renew and get better and better, until your goal becomes a habit as easy as putting shoes on before you leave your property.
Great books on this topic are:
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
Imagine Big by Terri Savelle Foy (pre-order for May 15, 2013)
