One Major Consideration for Goal Setting

I asked a lot of my training clients if they have any new years goals and intentions and most people don't seem to be a fan of new years goals. And thats cool! 

But!  Everyone said they like setting goals at their own pace and when they feel it is right for them.  So I wanted to give some tips for setting manageable, approachable goals.   

One thing I always ask is what other goals and demands do you have going on in your life? One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is setting lofty goals during a time in their life when they have many other demands. This doesn't mean you can't set goals in the gym while having other life and career goals.  How can we make them work and fit together?  

Here are some examples: 

- You are a new parent and you decide you want to run a marathon for the first time.  This might not be an ideal time to dedicate hours and hours to running, and recovery.  Instead, a manageable goal might look like running 1-3 miles, 1-3x per week and adding on mileage and days as you feel good.  

- You are finishing up your PHD, studying for finals, or working on a major work project and want to lift 5 days per week for 2 hours a day.  For some, maybe this would work if this is your norm and you feel like you have the free time.  For many, this might be too much and take away from time to rest, spend time with loved ones, and hobbies that bring you joy.  These things are all also important!  Maybe having a goal of lifting for 1 hour a day 3-4 times per week would be a better fit. 

-You are going through a tough mental health time and make it a goal to hit PRs on your squat, bench, and deadlift in the next month.  For some, lifting heavy might really help their mental health.  For others, the pressure of lifting heavy might feel like another mental hurdle and may actually push you away from the gym.  Maybe having a strict lifting schedule is a bit too restricting and having flexibility might be more helpful.  Instead, it might be helpful to set a goal of 20 minutes of mobility a day or taking a 30 min walk 4-5 days a week.   

Here is the thing, I don't want to stop anyone from pursuing goals that are important to them! If a goal is important to you, break it down into pieces with small, manageable progressions and go for it!  What I hate to see, is people dropping all other goals and important parts of their life for a fitness goal.  Do you love spending time with family and friends?  Do you love participating in hobbies? Are you losing sleep because you don't have enough time to fit in all your fitness goals and life needs?  Don't let those things go!  Fit in your fitness goals with the other things you love in life because all of those things provide health benefits too!