Set Goals, Not New Years Resolutions.

Reading Time: 5 minutes

November and December can be quiet months in the gym, almost eerily so.

You might walk around the gym and still be able to see:

• The older gym veterans and dedicated early morning 9-to-5 crowd
• The cardio-regulars plodding away their usual minutes on the treadmill
• And of course, the Zumba and group fitness classes gallivanting around

However, the majority will be absent from the usual gym landscape. I’m talking about the “fair weather” gym-goers (the ones that seem to come-and-go with the seasons).

But, when January rolls around, things take a turn.

And you may begin to notice yourself waiting to use a bench, the dumbbell rack dwindling in its normal selection, and all of a sudden you’re having to dodge an army of sweaty bodies on the way to the locker room or to fill up at the drinking fountain.

This is the cycle associated with the “New Year, New Me” resolution mentality.

What are my real thoughts on this group?

To be honest, I support them fully. I wish nothing but success for everybody. But, on that same note, I sympathize with them because I know how this all typically plays out.

Having spent years in the fitness industry and in the gym as an enthusiast and a trainer and now working as an online coach, I’ve seen this trend year after year. And I know that the large majority of these resolution-setters are not likely to effectively stick around to see through their goals and newly-found fitness habits.

This is why I have this to say on the topic of New Year’s resolutions….

You need to establish a clear goal, not a resolution.

Here’s why – many people set vague, unrealistic resolution-based goals, such as “lose weight” or “exercise more” without any clear plan or strategy for achieving them. This lack of specificity makes tracking progress difficult and decreases chances of success.

Structured goal-setting, in contrast, is a more effective approach. Setting goals that are: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) leads to the creation of more well-defined goals that are achievable and relevant, as well as creates an established timeline that generates urgency to go about moving towards them.

For example, rather than resoluting to “exercise more”, a SMART goal might be to “lift weights three times per week for the next month”. This specific, measurable goal provides a clear action plan and timeline, making it more likely to result in success.

With resolutions, progress along the way is often not measured or acknowledged leading to dissatisfaction in the process and collapse of the habits implemented.

This is what really irks me about resolutions – they start off with an initial energy explosion that is violent and motivated in nature, but fizzles out.

It’s short-lived, temporary, and there is no deeper why reason attached.

The more that you understanding the long-term investment to your goals in the beginning, the easier it will be to drive yourself to being consistent when the road gets rocky and challenges present themselves… you can count on that being the case.

As cliche as it sounds, you shouldn’t need the new year to start working toward your goals. That change should be something that you’re driven to do because you yourself have determined that you are ready for it. And you truly believe that you’re in the position to succeed when you make the decision to go all-in.

I spend a great deal of time with my online coaching clients discussing goals and creating pathways to overcome the obstacles standing between them and their vision.

If you need guidance in setting clearer goals, just know – I’m in your corner.

Otherwise, Happy New Year and happy resolution GOAL setting!