Many adults understand that getting regular exercise is an important part of maintaining health and well-being. However, it can be difficult to start an exercise program or keep one going past its initial stages. When you set clear exercise goals, you can overcome these difficulties and give yourself ongoing motivation for your fitness efforts.
Exercise Accomplishment
When you set goals for exercise, you decide what you want to achieve and outline a specific way of accomplishing your task. Mapping out a long-term goal also allows you to take seemingly impossible tasks and break them down into smaller, more manageable accomplishments. For instance, if you ultimately want to lose 25 lbs. through exercise, you can concentrate on the more manageable task of losing 1 to 2 lbs. per week.
Additional Benefits
You can also use goal-setting to establish your priorities before you begin an exercise program. This allows you to visualize exercise's place in your daily routine and start making the necessary adjustments to your schedule. If you share your goals with other people, you can also increase your chances of staying active by giving friends or family a way to monitor your efforts and offer encouragement. Setting goals can also give you the motivation to work through difficult times when you might otherwise cast exercise aside and return to your old habits.
SMART Goals
To set achievable goals, the American Council on Exercise recommends using an approach called the SMART goal method. In the first step of this approach, make your end goals as specific as possible. Next, make sure that your goals are measurable, so you can clearly tell when you've reached them. After establishing ways to measure your goals, you must also make them realistic enough for you to attain. Next, make sure your goals are relevant to your personal tastes and desires. Lastly, set both short- and long-term timelines for reaching your final results.
Improving Your Chances
The American Council on Exercise also lists several ways to improve your chances of achieving reasonable exercise goals. They include determining a clear reason for making a change, outlining the costs and benefits of your proposed exercise plan and establishing ways to reward yourself periodically for your achievements. Additional steps to improve your chances for success include establishing a network of family and friends to support your efforts and using reminders such as notes and other visual cues to help you stay focused on maintaining a regular exercise routine. Always talk to your doctor before you start exercising.
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