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I’m a firm believer that if you want to achieve great things in life, you need to set goals. They are a great way to determine a clear direction of where you want to go. I always set myself goals, both in my fitness routine and other areas of my life. This helps me to dream big and keep getting better at everything I do. It also helps with tracking my progress on a regular basis. So if you are on a health and fitness journey, or simply want to aim a little higher in life, here are some of my key tips on how to dream big, set goals and achieve what you want.
1. Don’t be afraid to dream big.
Remember that dreams don’t have to only exist when you are sleeping. I see a lot of women who do not truly realise what they are capable of, so they dream small or don’t dream at all. One of the biggest lessons I have learned in the last five years is that anything is truly possible. With hard work, determination and some smart planning, you really are capable of so much more than you think. Don’t ever underestimate what you are capable of. Remember to dream big and aim high.
2. Dream big but plan small.
While it’s important to dream big, it can seem overwhelming when we set huge goals. We can be unsure how to get there, resulting in nothing gets done at all. So while you should dream big, it’s important to plan small. Break down your big goals into smaller ones and then tackle them individually. When it’s broken down into achievable phases, it feels more manageable and you are more likely to keep moving ahead. If you want to run a marathon, you would start with a goal of running 10k, rather than just focusing on the entire 26.2 to start. Then ensure you celebrate each milestone along the way. This will help keep you working hard and motivated.
Related: How To Turn Negative Thoughts Into A Positive Mindset
3. Track your progress.
When working towards a goal, it’s important to have regular checks to see how you are progressing. If you aren’t tracking well, it’s time to reassess and see what you can do to keep improving and succeeding. If you’re not where you want to be, that’s okay too. Sometimes things aren’t as easy as we expect and it just needs a little more hard work to get ahead.
4. Get the right support.
It’s really important to surround yourself with people who are like-minded and supportive. Don’t try and do it all alone. Ask your family and friends, or even find yourself a mentor or coach that can support you along the way. The more positive influences you have around when working towards these goals, the better. It’s also a great motivation when you find someone who has already achieved what you want and can help guide you through the process. If you aren’t very good at making yourself accountable for things you said you were going to do, then find a friend or family member who will. Having the right support around you really can make all the difference to getting what you want in life.
5. Get motivated.
When working towards a big goal or dream, it’s important to stay motivated every day. Motivation doesn’t always come constantly or easily, so I find writing down your ‘why’ and practicing visualizations of how you will feel once you reach your goal are both awesome tools to help with motivation.
Related: Maintaining Long Term Fitness Results
6. Take action.
Simply wanting something is not enough. Reaching your goals is no one else’s responsibility but your own. Goals written down on a piece of paper are a great idea, but if you don’t go out there and take action, then what’s the point! You must do everything you can to get what you want. If the overall task seems hard, break it down and do something small each day. Taking small steps consistently over time will eventually lead you to reaching your goals. As the saying goes, it may not happen overnight but it will happen, as long as you keep taking action.
7. Failure” is part of the journey.
I’m not going to sugar coat it for you. If you have big dreams, you need to be prepared for some bumps along the way. Generally, the bigger the dream, the harder it can be to reach. Just because you come across some obstacles, or don’t reach your goal in the first try, it doesn’t mean you should stop. In fact, being knocked down is just part of the journey. Every successful person has failed more than once in his or her life. The important thing isn’t whether or not you get knocked down, the important thing is to keep going and keep getting back up. Learn from your mistakes and know they are just part of the process.
Remember to always believe in yourself and dream big. You really can achieve anything you want from life. You just need to be prepared to work hard, take action and keep pushing through when things get tough.