So, you all suggested I look into how to achieve your goals (with New Years Resolutions and just overall goals failing allllll the time, y'all said you need help).
My Goal
To start the challenge off, I set a goal to complete #weekone of the Bikini Body Guide. This consisted of three thirty-minute workouts (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). #Literally three times, that's it. Guess how far I made it? I made it to Monday. And even before I did my workout on Monday... I had to look into reasons why I should workout as I was binge-watching #Parenthood and eating chicken nuggets. I failed before I even started.
My Research
Here's what I discovered:
There are three major reasons people fail their goals.
1. We don't have a strong enough "why."
Several sources said this "why" is one of the biggest motivators in achieving your goals. After all, if you don't have a reason to continue doing something, will you?
2. The goal isn't clear.
You know the phrase, "It's as clear as mud," right? Mud is incredibly difficult to see through. #duh You can't see the results and the long haul if you can't see the initial obstacle clearly.
3. We have all the excuses in the world.
Like I said in the #excuses post: Excuses are like elbows. Everyone's got a couple. This kind of goes hand in hand with the "strong enough why" reason. If you don't have a good reason, you'll find all sorts of excuses not to continue toward your goals.
Here's what I found from mindtools.com's article, "Golden Rules of Goal Setting." They say there are five rules to set yourself up for success.
1. Set Goals that Motivate You
I know I am not the only one who has set a weight loss goal and within 24 hours had ice cream for breakfast. #amiright I seriously admire people who are steadfast with their fitness goals and one day maybe I'll get there. However, right now in my life, it is important to me to embrace my emotions, become debt free and accept who I am... moreso than losing weight.
Find something that you want to change or achieve because you value it. In this article, they recommend: "To make sure your goal is motivating, write down wy it's valuable and important to you. Ask yourself, ;If I were to share my goal with others, what would I tell them to convince them it was a worthwhile goal?' You can use this motivating value statement to help you if you start to doubt yourself or lose confidence in your ability to actually make the goal happen."
2. Set SMART Goals
Going back to my "Clear as mud" statement, you want to make your goals specific so you have clear direction. Having SMART goals is a great way to achieve this. Mindtools.com says SMART stands for:
Specific
Clear and Well-defined. Make it easy to achieve by defining precisely where you want to be.
Measurable
Include precise amounts, dates and so on. "Without a way to measure your success you miss out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something."
Attainable
Make sure the goals are within reach but not too easy. "By setting realistic yet challenging goals, you hit the balance you need. These are the types of goals that require you to 'raise the bar' and they bring the greatest personal satisfaction."
Relevant
Think about where your life and career are headed and make goals to help you stay on the road you want to travel. "By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want."
Time Bound
Deadlines are important. "When you are working on a deadline, your sense of urgency increases and achievement will come that much quicker."
3. Set Your Goals in Writing
Writing something down makes it real, tangible. Also, using power words like "will" instead of "would like to" help motivate you to keep on keeping on. Mindtool's tip for this is: "Frame your goal statement positively. If you want to improve your retention rates say, 'I will hold on to all existing employees for the next quarter' rather than 'I will reduce employee turnover.'" You also need to post these goals in visible places to remind you of your "why." For me, I have my budget taped to in the inside of my wallet because I need all the motivation to stay on track. #brokegirlprobs
4. Make an Action Plan
Don't skip to Superbowl before you plan out the plays. In order to succeed, you need to make a solid plan. "By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each on off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal." Instead of saying, "I will lose 50 lbs by June," think of it as, "I will lose 10 lbs each month until June to reach my goal of losing 50 lbs by June. This breaks down to 2.5 per week. In order to do this, I will cut sugar, run on Mondays and Wednesdays and drink half my body weigh in water each day."
5. Stick With It!
Just like in High School Musical, we're all in this together. Everyone has goals and we can achieve them. We just need to know how! "Build in reminders to keep yourself on track and make regular time-slots available to review your goals." Never give up. Think of your why. You can do it!
Wrap Up
So, there it is. You asked how to stay motivated to achieve your goals. I dug deep and found that most people fail not because they suck but because their goals kind of suck. Follow these tips to set yourself up for success!
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