Setting goals is great. Sticking to them is another story altogether. In January it's often full steam ahead and then by the end of February we're often left wondering what happened. It's easy to lose steam. So, I've got 3 tips that should help you see those goals through.
1. Be Realistic.
I'm not saying don't dream big but you need to be realistic in terms of where you're at physically when you're planning your goals. If you want to do an Ironman but you've only ever run 5km and you don't swim, then you need to allow yourself the time to build up to that. Be realistic with your timelines and your abilities and the less chance you'll have at becoming discouraged and overwhelmed. That's not to say that you won't have rough patches along the way. That's par for the course. But that's also a small part of why we do what we do.
2. Less is More.
In terms of goals I've found that less is more. In previous years I've often made a long list of things but I've found that to become overwhelming and when I look back on the year, I realized that I only accomplished half of what I wanted to do, which at the end of the year, was a bit of a downer for me. Now I pick anywhere from 3-6 things and focus on the steps needed to achieve those goals.
3. Put it Out There & Get Support
This is huge. Whether the support comes from your family, a training group or a coach, having a support network to help keep you on track is key to successfully meeting your goals. This also means sharing your goals with people. It's funny how "putting it out there" makes you feel much more accountable. Having a support network will help you get through the rough patches, keep you focused and keep your head in the game.
What are your goals for 2015? Any other tips you'd share?
Join us next month on Tuesday February 3rd to talk about Training Plans!
7 comments:
Love your third point in particular! It's amazing how much a bit of support from friends and family can help you reach your goals, and they can't support you if they don't know what you're trying to accomplish.
After a injury plagued 2014 my big triathlon goal is to lay the foundation back down for consistency in the years to come. And of course, have fun always!
Yes, you must put it out there-write it down, shout it out, share it with friends and family and find your cheering section!
Support, yes! Finding my tri club was like striking gold. I would not have been prepared for my last season without them.
I am the queen of not realistic hahaha I often dream really big and then training brings me back down to earth!
I agree that less is more. I have one big goal this year, IMCanada, and a few smaller goals, which seems more manageable.
When it comes to goal setting, I always say, don't be afraid to restructure your goals or make changes if need be. Sometimes if things don't go as planned, the goal can become unrealistic, so it's important to recognize this and maintain control. I reevaluate my goals all of the time and I'm not afraid to make changes.
YES to "less is more". I think it was two years ago that I had a goal list of like 100 things and by the time the year ended, I was so disappointed in myself and my inability to reach them all.
This year I want to work really, really hard to get faster and improve my half and full marathon times, with the hopes of a BQ! If I don't BQ, I would like to just get as close as possible and keep trying until it happens.
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