How to set sports goals: 8 tips
We often start by setting goals when a new year, a new season, a new cycle begins. With the arrival of sunny days, the desire to go out and move is felt. Motivation suddenly returns and many take the opportunity to get back to sport. To progress sustainably, it is essential to set different levels of development and then a long-term objective. In this article, we'll see how to set goals and stick to them without getting discouraged.
Reach your fitness goals with these 8 tips
The first step is to set achievable goals that you know you can achieve in a given time. When you have high expectations and little time, it's hard to stay on track. We therefore recommend that you take the following points into account:
Tip #1: Define your why
Forget to start by looking for an exercise program or a trainer that could help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself. First of all, define your why, the reasons that led you to make this change in your life.
To do this, you need to assess the challenge you are facing and determine if it is achievable or if you are overworking yourself in too short a time. It's best to start step by step, setting small goals that you can increase over time. For example, commit to taking a 30-minute walk every morning.
In this way, you will know what to expect and will be able to maintain your motivation in the long term.
Tip #2: Start the sport not for others, but for yourself!
A key point is that none of the goals you set for yourself should be based on what others expect of you. For example, don't start exercising just because your friends told you you should. Absolutely, everything you do must be done because YOU have decided to do it, and for the reasons YOU have determined.
This is directly related to your motivation, remind yourself every day why you started a new diet or why you signed up for that yoga class. This is the only way to be sure that your goals will be achieved.
Tip #3: Reach each level at your own pace
The biggest difficulty in pursuing a goal is not so much setting the goal. The important thing is not to skip the stages, to evolve step by step in order to be able to measure and note your progress and thus preserve your motivation over the long term. Don't try to run a marathon directly, but start with a short 10-20 minute run. When you have found your rhythm and can manage your breath, increase your running time by 10 minutes and so on.
It's easier to find consistent motivation when you see the changes step by step, because you'll see the positive results and it will push you to keep going.
It's also possible that you set a deadline and still haven't reached your goal. Don't worry, stop for a moment and re-evaluate your plan to readjust it to suit.
Tip #4: Start your training diary
Whether it's physical or digital, what's important is that it describes every step you've taken, the changes you've seen, and the goals you think you need to change. If you've signed up for competitions or classes, note the progress you've made.
So you can clearly see your progress and motivate yourself to change certain factors or pursue a specific goal.
Tip #5: Consult experts for personalized advice
There are thousands of sports and nutrition programs on the Internet, but nothing beats the advice of professionals who will offer you personalized routines according to your goals.
The best thing to do before embarking on any goal is therefore to consult a nutritionist and a coach, who will base all your changes on the needs of your body. This will allow you to get the desired results within the given time.
Tip #6: Work your mind
Negative thoughts are usually the ones that sabotage your goals and take you away from your purpose. So strengthen your mind to see only the positive side of every progress you have made. Don't focus your attention on the exercise that you couldn't complete today, but rather on the fact that you were able to start it and that you will improve every day by doing it.
If you've never exercised before or haven't exercised in a long time, it's normal for your body to have trouble getting used to a routine again. Accepting being demotivated for a while is not a failure. Stay persistent for the long haul, have confidence in your success, and remember that it only takes 30 days to form a new habit. We guarantee that at this stage, it will be more difficult for you to miss your sports sessions than to get there!
Tip 7: Find your sports partner
A good way to achieve your goal is to find yourself a training partner or join a group that has similar visions to yours. They will be a reliable support and will support you in times when you want to throw in the towel.
If you commit to training with people daily, just knowing that you promised to do something will inspire you to get up and get to work. Although training with others is not suitable for everyone, group sport remains a great source of motivation for many athletes.
Tip #8: Appreciate your efforts and progress
Once you decide to change your life and improve your health, that's already progress! You must therefore value each of these steps. When you start to see the changes, don't just think about what could be better, but also appreciate the effort you've made to achieve it and what you've achieved so far and stay motivated.
FAQs:
1) Is it important to have a sports goal?
Having an athletic goal can be important for maintaining motivation and measuring progress. However, this depends on individual preferences and needs for physical activity.
2) What are the 4 main categories of motivations for doing sport?
The four main categories of motivations for playing sports are intrinsic motivations (related to pleasure and personal satisfaction), extrinsic motivations (related to rewards and recognition), social motivations (related to interactions with others) and health and well-being motivations (related to physical and mental health).
Other advice related to this theme will interest you:
How to achieve your goals: 4 essential steps
· How to play sports when you have no time?
Overcome your fear of the female gym - 5 tips
