How to Make a Realistic Goal.

For most people, setting a goal is a difficult task. The biggest drawback for most goals is that they are not realistic which makes them unattainable; this, in turn, causes people to lose motivation and eventually give up on their exercise program. A great acronym to keep in mind when setting a goal is SMART. S stands for Specific; your goal needs to be specific. What is it that you are wanting to achieve? If your goal is to lose weight, then you need to
specify how much weight you want to lose. M stands for Measurable; you need to be able to measure your progress. You can measure your weight, your inches, your calorie consumption, your distance traveled (if your goal is a distance based goal), or your time spent performing an activity. A stands for Attainable; you need to be able to succeed in reaching your set goal. R stands for Realistic; you need to be sure that your goal is within your obtainable resources, knowledge, ability, and time. T stands for Time; you need to set a deadline for your goal. You need to make sure you give yourself enough time to be successful, but not too much time, which can cause a lack in motivation. When you create a goal, you want to make sure that your goal is not too hard yet not too easy. If you goal is too hard, you are likely to give up because you aren't able to see progress. If your goal is too easy, then you can also lose motivation. An example of a SMART Goal is as follows: I will lose 5 pounds in one month by exercising more and eating healthier. Be sure to write your goal down on paper and place it where it will be seen by you every day, whether it is taped to the refrigerator, taped to the mirror, taped to your bedroom door, etc. When you see your goal all the time, it will help increase the likelihood of your achievement.

Now that you have made your SMART Goal, you need to consider how you are going to go about achieving that goal. It is best if you sit down and create a plan, such as when, where, and how you are going to achieve your goal. Be sure you don't overdo it so that you become unmotivated and be sure you create the plan so that you can adhere to it. If you work 9-5 and do not enjoy waking up early, it is not recommended that you set the time to achieve your goal before you go to work; instead, set the time so that you can do it after work or later in the evening.

Now that you have your goal and made you plan, it's time to get started! Don't forget to keep a log so that you can keep track of your progress.