“All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.” —Orison Swett Marden
Setting a goal in all walks of life is important, it helps keep us on the pathway to success. This is no different to anyone who wants to improve their health and fitness. At Medicine in Motion we always hear of failed ideas to improve and this is mainly down to not having a plan or a goal.
What are Smart Goals?
We only believe in smart goals, as they are proven to be effective and actually get results. Smart – stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely.
Specific – what, where, when, why, who and how? You need to consider what you are trying to achieve, where you are going to do that – the gym or a local park? When will you invest time in reaching your goal, is it going to be a daily or weekly thing? Who are you going to work towards it with, on your own, with a friend or as part of a team? How are you going achieve it, is it through physical activity, nutrition etc.
Measurable – consider how you are going to decide how close you are to reaching your goal, and when you will consider it met. Quantity and time can both be measured.
Attainable – Is your goal realistic? Will you be able to accomplish this goal by the date you have set? Climbing Mount Everest in three days is not something that is achievable.
Relevant – your goal needs to be something that suits you. Is it something you are going to enjoy doing, if not the chances of you reaching it are considerably less. If you hate running, then don’t. If you enjoy netball, factor that in!
Timely – set an end date to your goal.
A few of example of Smart Goals
- I am going to take part in one 5k fun run by June this year and one 10k run by September this year.
- I am going to lose 10kgs by August this year and journal my progress every week.
- I am going to join a group fitness class and go at least once a week, every week, except for when I am on holidays.
If you are unsure on how to set your goals or have questions on how to get started, we always advise you to get in touch with us and let us give you expert, caring advice on how to succeed.
