Written by Monday. I love Monday. Know why? Because you get a whole new week! Monday’s are also good days to start new training plans, new diet plans, new Zelda-conquering plans… oh wait, that might be just me and my husband…
Anyway, Monday is a great “new” day but what do you need in order to start your plan? Aside from the obvious answer of, “a plan,” you also need goals. Not just any goals, but SMART goals.
S- Specific
M- Measurable
A- Attainable
R- Relevant
T- Timely
I’m sure a fair amount of you have seen this, or some variation before, but sometimes it takes a couple of look-sees for something to finally sink in and become an action (myself included). So today’s post is going to consist of my training goals. This way, my “A” can not only stand for “attainable” but also “accountable.” Over-acheiver I am.
Yes, I was THAT girl.
Goals, especially ones that are written down, help direct your plan and lend motivation to training, eating or whatever you’re trying to accomplish (read all Harry Potters in less than a week… wait, that will be counter-productive to my training goals. Blast!)
I am also THIS girl.
Written goals hold more authority and remind you what you’re working towards, especially when you’re slogging through the drudgery that accompanies the journey to a goal. (every goal has a bit of plodding drudgery on the way.)
Want to accomplish a full bodyweight pull up? Write it down and make it your goal. Want to finally lose that last 5 pounds? Write it down and make it your goal. I could wander into the territory of motivational speaking but I don’t feel like boring/nauseating you.
Minus the goggles, or not.
The point is: write down your goals! Then attack them with the earnestness of Harry Potter seeking the Snitch in a quidditch match against Slytherin.
Here are my SMART training goals:
1. Conquer the Iron Maiden challenge (1 pistol squat, 1 pull up and 1 single-arm overhead press with at 24 K kettlebell) by the time my braces come off (about next August).
2. Complete 600 swings within 40 minutes with a 28K kettlebell by September 30th. 800 swings in 50 minutes by November 30th and 1000 swings in 60 minutes by January 30th.
3. Complete my 8-week deadlift experiment (details in 8 weeks… just to keep you in suspense) without hurting my back. This one will be measured by my pain levels (hopefully zero) instead of weight on the bar.
That’s all you have to do. Each one is specific, measurable (that’s the bonus with weightlifting goals, easy to measure), attainable (I think so anyway), relevant (I like picking up heavy things and each one involves just such activities), and timely (expiration dates are set).
As cheesy or goofy as some of those motivational speeches can be (I’ve sat through a few), don’t underestimate the power of a written goal. If you feel a lag of excitement in your training life (or any other sphere) set a goal and accomplish it! The satisfaction in completing a goal (and crossing it off the list…I love that) is a feeling that is extremely delightful. Don’t you want to do that?
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