It’s February! New month, new goals, right? But first, let’s look back on my January goals. Fitness-wise, I wanted to run every other day, do three yoga classes a week, and add some running-specific strength work twice a week.
My other goals were to read four books for the month of January, and address my sleep issues by getting in bed eight hours before my wake-up time. As I was reviewing these goals, one thought came to mind…
Seriously?
Those were my January goals? I’m not putting myself down, because I had just recovered from Covid and was getting over the post-Christmas blues. But I would say I went pretty easy on myself.
Let’s start with the fitness goals. I really don’t need to set a goal in order to get myself to run. I love running, and would run every day if I could. Setting a “goal” to run is like setting a goal to eat- it’s going to happen anyway.
Moving on- yoga three times a week is pretty easy considering I do it in the comfort of my own home, using the Peloton app. Adding in two days of strength was an admirable goal, but easily achievable.
The sleep goal I didn’t even do (although I did have a sleep epiphany- more about that coming up on Friday!) and reading four book a month is not that hard.
Yep- those were pretty soft goals.
Was that bad? For where I was- no, it wasn’t bad. I guess I needed some easy goals that I could achieve and come out of the month feeling good about. But it made me think about goal setting in general.
Chris McClung, host of the Running Rogue podcast, always says if you’re scared before a race, it means your goals are big enough. None of my January goals were big enough to scare me. The last time a goal scared me was when I participated in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) where I committed to publishing thirty blog posts for the thirty days of November.
I literally woke up on October 31st saying “ACK!!! WHAT did I say I would do???” I couldn’t fathom how I was going to post every single day. But I started, somehow kept going, and finished the month with thirty blog posts- and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in a long time.
That same month, I committed to doing a yoga class every single day. That goal was a little easier, but I still had to work on some days to fit that class in. Again, it taught me so much- mainly, what a vast, deep practice yoga is, and how I’m still at the very beginning. At the end of the month of classes every day I was just starting to understand what yoga is about.
Right now my “goals” are more like plans. For this week I’ve written down “Run M-W-F-Sun, do three yoga classes, pushups or pull-ups 5x, finish The House in the Cerulean Sea.” A plan is an intention, a method for getting through the week. On the other hand, one definition of goal is “an aim or objective that you work toward with effort and determination.” Goals require effort and determination because they’re meant to stretch you.
A big goal is something you believe you can accomplish, but you’re not entirely sure. That’s why it’s scary. So why set big goals at all? It’s not for the outcome, which is unsure, but for the process.
When I achieved my goals of blogging and doing yoga every day for the month of November, I didn’t become a professional blogger or win some kind of yoga award. But being immersed in those projects made every day seem richer and fuller. Having that sense of purpose made the month more fun. Isn’t that what life is all about, anyway?
Right now I still have my plans for this week written in my planner. But I’m thinking about setting some new big goals to spice things up a bit. I don’t want to “plan” through this month- I want to enrich my life with a goal that’s a little scary.
Stay tuned- I’m mulling over some ideas. Big goals are coming!
What about you? Do you have any big goals for the week, month, or year? Or would you say it’s enough right now to have plans to get you through each week? – Sometimes getting through is all you can do!
29 Responses
I used to have goals…. then I switched to plans and now back to goals… not monthly but by the end of the year. But I did write a post about why you need a BIG hairy goal – https://myfirst5kandmore.com/2021/10/08/fff-big-hairy-goal/
I’m in limbo… now my goals are like plans… my big hairy goal was not big enough. I accomplished it on the first try.
Maybe with the weather and COVID, plans are still ok.
Like you, I think I need something bigger…
Yes, I like that post! I remember when you first published it, and just went back and read it. So we both need a big goal… we’ll see what we come up with.
got any ideas??
I have some ideas but they’re all vague and unrealistic. I’m working on it though!
I think of goals and plans as different. I set goals using SMART criteria (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound) and then create a plan to accomplish those goals. The goals are pretty broad (improve health) and then the plan is how to accomplish that big goal. Regardless, I think your to-do items for January sounded pretty impressive – you do so much!! I wish exercise and movement came as easily to me as it seems to come to you!
Yes, that’s a great way to look at it- you use plans on the way to achieving your goals. And I have to disagree with you- one of my goals was to read four books in January and you read WAY more than that. So, we all have our thing (and if I’m not mistaken, I think you exercise most days as well.)
For me definitely plans. Well, I do have goals, as well.
I have had many times when I’ve done big goals. Yes, there’s a time for that. For me now is not the right time for that. Other people in my position might think it’s the right time!
We’re all different & as long as what you’re doing excites & fulfills you, I’d say you’re on the right path.
Actually, when I read your post today, I was thinking that you have mostly plans, but one big goal, which was filming the yoga videos. I would put that in the “big goal” category for sure.
I like to plan, but tend to have more practical goals at this point? Like tackling some house renovation projects. Which kinda feels like cheating…but it makes me slightly more motivated to tackle all the hassle that comes with it (we bought an older house, aren’t handy, and I hate making decisions; all those add up to renovations not exactly being my favourite thing).
I think one thing I’m learning is to try to set goals I WANT to do. Several years ago I set a goal to run 15K. I only made it to 12K, but enjoyed the process. This year, because of some health challenges, long runs weren’t in the cards, but I kept pushing away at running doing a run every day in September and some other things. And I didn’t WANT to do it. It wasn’t enjoyable…and right now, I just am starting to recognize life is too short to not tackle goals that are good for my physical or mental health.
This can all shift of course. I’m really hoping to get back to running again. But in January my goal was to walk a minimum of 1km a day outside and I have LOVED the process. I was already doing this about 90% of the time anyway, but having it as a goal seems to elevate it and make it seem special. When I fit in that walk and tick off the little box, I get a sense of satisfaction like: I’m working toward a goal.
I agree- a goal should stretch us, but not be something we absolutely hate. Like I could have the goal to mop the floor every day (and I would be scared, ha ha) but it wouldn’t enrich my life. And I agree- elevating something to “goal” status really does feel good.
My big goal for the start of the year was to get this surgery. I was as nervous for it as I am when I run a race, so I used that experience to get myself together. Sometimes when we have big things planned (see, goals), we really have to dig deep to get them done, no matter what they are! I like your musing on goals because it fits my mindset right now. Moving forward, I haven’t set any big goals for the year. I do have some races on the calendar but nothing pressing. I’m happy with my progression at the gym, too. So maybe I’ll just let it all happen…
It’s probably hard to focus on big goals while you have this surgery to think about. I agree, you can pull on your race experience to get yourself through it. Good luck with everything!
Any goals are good goals and you did a great job in January, especially as you were recovering from Covid.
Thank you Kim! I know from reading your blog that you like to set big goals. Yes, there are times when little goals are fine too!
I honestly have not thought of any specific goals for 2022. I want to do another marathon, but I also want to just kind of coast for awhile and “just run.” I’d like to snag another (or a few, LOL) sub-2:00 half marathons, but I don’t want it bad enough to immerse myseff in a strict training plan. After all, I can run a 2:05ish 13.1 without doing anything extraordinary training-wise, and that’s not a bad thing…but my gut is also telling me to not dwell in that comfort zone. UGH.
Yeah, I know- just getting through life unscathed (and uninjured) is enough sometimes. You can call it “coasting” but also remember we’re in a pandemic which makes everything more difficult- so there’s quite a bit of effort in coasting too.
I have 3 big racing goals this year (April, July and September). I plan my running around those goals.
I set my other life goals quarterly: fitness goals, social, nutrition, finance, personal growth, etc. My husband sets his goals and then we discuss them every quarter.
I also have a vision of how I see myself in 10 years: what I look like, what I will be doing, what my hobbies are and what my lifestyle will be like. I added some photos from magazines to make it as graphic as possible. It’s quite hilarious!
I like that “10 year vision” exercise! It sounds like you’re very focused on your long and short-term goals already.
It’s weird for me as I DON’T have any big goals. All my goals are sort of day-to-day things. And they are things that are like you say, “it’s like eating” – things I do everyday anyway. Can I blame the pandemic for my ennui?
YES YOU CAN! I went through all of last year without any big goals- until November when I felt like I finally stretched myself. I agree that just getting through a pandemic might be enough.
A beautiful post with wise considerations.
I don’t have big goals: only running and stretching every other day, so I can stay active 7 days a week.
With all the races cancelled for covid is not easy to find other goals even if I am increasing, step by step, speed and mileage.
Yes, I agree that Covid has made things really challenging. It’s hard to commit to a big goal when you know it could be canceled through no fault of your own. It won’t last forever though!
I think you’re right that a goal should be something that ‘scares’ you a little bit. If you’re setting a ‘goal’ to run three times a week and you do that anyway – then it’s not really a new goal, but a habit that you know you’re going to stick to.
But I do think there is a range between goals that are easily achievable, but require some dedication and big goals that require some long-term planning and a little bit of luck too.
I am contemplating tackling the marathon distance right now. I have not picked out a race or even thought about any time goals or anything, but I have this little nagging thought in the back of my head that says I should get on that if it’s something I want to check off my (non-existent) bucket list 😉
I think you should listen to that nagging thought! It’s definitely trying to tell you something important 🙂
When I have specific goals that I am working on I also feel that daily sense of accomplishment when I check off steps taken towards that goal. Completing mini goals weekly and daily gives me a sense of purpose that motivates me.
Yes, having “mini goals” is working really well for me right now!
I set yearly and monthly goals – my yearly goals can sometimes be scarier and more challenge, like the fact that I want to save $4k for a house down payment or get into a habit of eating less sugar. Those feel very big and outlandish to me! For my monthly goals, I usually set things that are either nagging tasks I need to accomplish (clean my oven) or bigger habit-forming goals that I want to implement (walk a mile a day, drink water every day, etc). I want to be kind to myself and not set myself up for failure, but I also think it’s good to push myself every now and then!
It sounds like you have a good balance of large and small goals! I still haven’t set any big goals… still thinking about that.