Okay, all kidding aside, whether you are new to working out or getting healthy, an athlete training for a race, or just someone who needs some motivation, setting goals can be a very powerful tool.
Everyone is a bit different, so you may want to figure out if it works best; long-term or short-term goals. I set a little of both! Some of my own short-term goals are to make sure that each week I have at least 2 good weight training sessions. My long-term goals are to always keep that 30 pounds off that I lost a few years ago.
During the beginning of my journey to health, I used to aim to walk at least 30 minutes per day. Once I had accomplished that for a few weeks, my expectations for myself got higher and higher, one step at a time. I still find myself setting goals in order to keep myself accountable for my well-being and also to keep on pushing myself to get to the next level.
When I am teaching a spin class at my studio, I sometimes ask my participants to set a goal to just push to finish a song, or I might ask them to set a goal to finish the class feeling strong and accomplished. After class, I often get feedback that the idea of reaching a goal really motivated and inspired them.
A short-term goal should be something that is within your reach, but you will still have to work for it. A long-term goal is something that with time, determination, hard work you can achieve.
What are your goals?