We will cover four main types.
Outcome Goals
You can state your ideal weight, dress size, body composition, and so forth.
Your Performance Goals
I like to set goals based on performance (function), because they work better for me. You can state what you want to be able to run, walk, lift, or perform, and so on.
Remember: A better performance will lead to a better body.
Process Goals
You can choose actions you intend to do on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Examples might be your proper food intake, workouts per week, miles run per week, and so on. These goals are items over which you can exert control. Choose the actions that will naturally take you to your outcome or performance goals.
When you achieve your process goals, you automatically win because you learn what outcomes result from your actions. Your next step is to adjust your actions as necessary.
You can add your process goals to a check list and check them off each day.
This is no different from the process that any great inventor goes through. An inventor makes a goal to create something, plans out the steps, receives feedback from the steps, and adjusts.
Feeling Goals
This is a subjective observation, but a very powerful one. The whole purpose of desiring something is for the good feeling it will give you. You can experience your desired feelings even before your goal is met.
Choose the types of feelings you want to experience on a regular basis and aim to generate that feeling. You could go into a workout with the intention of feeling strong, fit, sexy, alive, flexible, healthy or energetic. You could step into work and set a goal of feeling successful, friendly, fun or ambitious.
You might decide to keep a journal of how you felt during any activity and rate it on a scale of 1-10 and look for constant improvement. You could be surprised how well documenting how you feel can improve your awareness and ability to feel a certain way.
Use the Power of The Pen
The reason you write out a goal is to get your subconscious mind working for you. It will inspire you to TAKE ACTION on the steps toward your goals, which is the best part.
Write out the date.
When peak performers have dates or competitions scheduled, they know when they must bring out their very best. With a specific time set, you will do what is necessary to be able to peak on that date. With a foggy time frame, it is easy to miss a workout or skip a meal, because you feel like you can make up for it later. Unfortunately, this can become a habit. “I’ll start tomorrow” or “Next week I’ll get back on track” are common excuses made by procrastinators.
When you create a date, you will make the most of your time and your decisions. You will make the extra effort to have your healthy meals ready and pack your gym clothes because you do not want to miss a beat.
When you set a date, you have a frame to work backward from and detail the steps necessary to meet the goal.
Live With Consistent Persistence
The key factor is to create small, consistent steps, where every step requires the same effort as the previous one. If you miss a step, it requires great effort to get back on course, which can cause frustration. NOTE: Set dates to inspire you and remain flexible with your dates. If you do not hit your mark exactly on the date intended and have to adjust the date, you have still won. You learned, you grew, and you inspired others. Again, life is a journey, you will always be setting goals, meeting goals, and setting new ones. You have to be comfortable with unachieved goals. Let the goals pull you, rather than cause anxiety for you.
World Super Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion Jason Scott Johnson is the author of the newly released book, Re-Create Yourself: How to Get Lean and Stay Lean. He has also produced a video fitness series, Turn Your Resolution into Reality. He is offering a free video download of the first installment in the series to help people really start on the road to fitness and stay on it. To get your free video click here