Why should I set a Goal?

Goal setting is an effective tool which will give you the clarity, focus and the motivation needed to reach your target. Goals can become daunting if you don’t have a specific action plan needed to reach your objective. Furthermore, if you don’t define your goal; how do you know what you are working towards?

What is a SMART Goal?

S – Specific

M – Measurable 

A – Achievable 

R – Relevant 

T- Time Bound

A SPECIFIC goal is a clear & well defined statement that identifies what you want to achieve. The more specific you can be with your goal the easier it will be to track your progress. Example Goal: Run 10km in 45 minutes. 

The MEASURABLE component of a SMART goal is fundamental to keeping you on target for reaching your objective. How are you going to track your progress? Using the example above you could run a 10km on the day you set the goal, set a baseline score. Thereafter, once a month record a 10km time & evaluate your performance. 

Make sure the goal is ACHIVABLE and possible to reach!! If you currently run a 10km in 60 minutes, setting yourself the challenge of running the distance in 45 minutes after 1 week is unrealistic. However, if this target was set over 6 months it is manageable and achievable.

Make sure the goal is RELEVANT. If you are a long distance runner, having the goal of improving your 1 Rep Max lift in the gym is not going to enhance your performance. 

Make your goal TIME BOUND. Having both a start & end date will help you plan your training and give you an aim. A great way to set a target is to book a race or event, this gives you a focus point and will keep you accountable. 

SMART goals are a great way to keep you motivated & focused whilst working towards reaching your objective.