Goal setting is a huge part of the health and fitness industry.

We set goals on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. But, how often do we achieve the goals we set?

More often then not goals are set and not achieved. Why is that?

One of the biggest reasons goals are set and not achieved are because we think too big, too quick.

When it comes to the health and fitness industry small goals and steps create the biggest results. Therefore, we need to set goals we know and are confident we can achieve.

For instance:

Let’s say you haven’t been exercising and your goal is to start. Set a goal of 1 exercise day a week for 2-4 weeks. This goal is very doable, whatever method of exercise you choose whether it be to take a walk, go to the gym, take a fitness class, hire a personal trainer, play a sport. One day a week is not going to overwhelm your mind or your body and you may even find you enjoy it. Your next goal can be to exercise 2x a week for the next 2-4 weeks after.

Had you set a goal to start to exercise and tried to fit in 3-4 days a week right away you may have found it hard to go from not exercising at all to trying to fit several days of it in a week. Feeling sore, overwhelmed, tired and not enjoying it, eventually quitting.

Which approach do you think will give you more success in achieving your goal?

A slower, gradual approach really can make all the difference in achieving the goals you set. You do not need an all or nothing approach. Breaking bad habits and forming good ones takes time for the mind and body to process.

Next time you set a goal, think of setting smaller goals that lead to that one larger goal you want to achieve. Get rid of the all or nothing approach and enjoy the process of reaching the goals you set little by little.