If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about how I love setting mini goals for myself. (Here and here, for example.) Sometimes that just means getting to the four-minute mark during interval runs and then backing off for a walking minute. Sometimes it means focusing on eating real foods all day so I can enjoy a treat for dessert at night. Setting these mini goals gives me something to look forward to, something to strive for, and something attainable to serve as a benchmark for my progress.
Eating right, exercising, and living a generally healthy lifestyle are all long-term goals of mine that don’t have any kind of start or end dates, but sometimes setting mini goals can help me really refocus and get back on track if I’ve been straying. And over the past couple of weeks, I’ve definitely been straying. I’ve enjoyed eating the things I’ve wanted and I’ve felt like my body has needed the easier workouts, but I’m ready to get back on track with a specific goal in mind.
This time, that goal is coming in the form of a trip to Florida in May… I just booked my plane ticket to go see Billy play baseball in the sunshine state a month from now, and I’m so excited!
Now, let me clarify by saying that this isn’t about planning to lose “x” number of pounds before I go or anything, but it is about refocusing my healthy habits so that I can feel my best. I have a lot going on between now and then (finals, last day at work, graduation, etc.) so it’s not like I’m not going to enjoy myself as I always do, but being able to set goals for myself always makes me happy. For me, setting this type of mini goal allows me to look back and say ‘wow, I did really great with my [eating, workouts, stretching, healthy living, etc.] for the past [day/week/month],’ and I love that feeling!
With all of that in mind, here’s some Fitspiration to kick off the next month:
Questions:
Do you ever set mini goals for yourself?
Do you find that setting mini goals helps you better achieve your long-term goals?
