I try to stay positive when it comes to fitness and coaching people with their fitness. But there is one area in particular where people lag. 

Good goals. 

Now, don’t read this the wrong way. Just because a goal isn’t ‘good’, doesn’t mean it’s ‘bad’. In the case that I am referring to, the majority of the goals I talk to people about lack specific outcomes. 

Broad goals aren’t good goals. 

“I want to get stronger and lose weight”

“I want to fit in to my jeans from last winter” 

Even something like “I want to do push ups” is a little bit better but lacks a few areas of specificity that can really take it to the next level. 

Good goals have a few components. First, a good goal should have a time frame. Goals without a time frame just just well-worded wishes. “I want to do push ups” is specific to the movement, but it’s very open ended. Do you want to do push ups before you die? Or do you want to do a push up by tomorrow? The way it’s worded, who knows? 

Second, a good goal should have a ‘so that’ behind it. ‘So that’ gives an emotional reaction to the goal. “I want to do push ups so that I can feel stronger while pushing my kids stroller on our walks”. “I want to fit in to my jeans from last winter so that I can have a sense of comfort when I am with my friends and family in public” 

I think we’ve all come across the goal setting adage of S.M.A.R.T. goals...for those who haven’t, SMART is an acronym meaning specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timely goal setting. Good goals don’t need to be super elaborate. Often, if goals become too elaborate and drawn out, they can be intimidating and trigger the wrong emotional response. This can slow down your ability and desire to get started and take action. 

To be honest...and I think I’m in the trust tree with you right now...SMART goals aren’t needed for the average fitness enthusiast. It’s too many steps and the process becomes cluttered and confusing. In my experience, I’ve found that people use goals in their fitness (and health and nutrition…) to help create a starting point. By adding a simple time frame to completion, you can then derive the process and by adding a ‘so that’ you have identified the emotional attachment as to why the goal is important to you. 

So as you finish up reading this, I want you to think of the last goal you had for yourself. I want you to reword that goal to include a time of completion and to include ‘so that’ and derive your emotional attachment to that goal. 

Simplify the process, amplify the action.