5 Tips for Creating and Achieving Running and Life Goals in 2023

 Do you make resolutions for the new year? Goals? Plans? Whatever you call them, here are 5 tips that can help you in creating and achieving running and life goals in 2023!Click To Tweet

5 Tips for Creating and Achieving Running and Life Goals in 2023

And just as frequently these goals are forgotten, put aside or given up on by February 1. Here are a few tips that can help you in achieving your running and life goals in 2023.

1. Don’t be afraid to pick a big goal

While goals should be reachable, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). Want to run that marathon? Go for it! Need to lose 100 pounds? You can! In fact, having a big goal is motivating and exciting.

2. Break it down

The key to success in achieving your BHAG is to start by creating a series of smaller goals that lead you to your final destination.

For example, if you plan to run your first marathon, sit down and create a plan to do so. Not a training plan, but the steps you need to take to get you to your destination.

To run a marathon, some lead up goals might be to build a mileage base, run a few shorter races, join a running club, actually choosing and signing up for a marathon, or hiring a coach. Write these down, create a timeline, then tick them off as you achieve them, knowing that each is leading you to your larger goal.

Losing weight is such a common resolution, yet it is so rarely achieved. If this is your ultimate goal, whether it is 10 pounds or 100, start by planning your smaller goals. Don’t just say just want to lose 10 pounds a month, say something like I will lose 10 pounds in the next six weeks. To do that I will eat smaller portions, take a daily walk, and choose healthier snacks. It can be broken down even further. This week I will skip fast food by bringing lunches to work. I will go to the gym three times and walk or run at least four times.

In case you missed it: Create SMART Goals to Achieve Your Fitness and Weight Loss Goals

These are all small, achievable goals that will take you where you want to go. You must take the time to plan, think them out, and write them down before you start.

3. Hold yourself accountable

Believe me. You will not achieve lasting success with your goals if you do not find some way to hold yourself accountable. You need to own your resolutions, be proud of yourself for attempting to make these huge changes in your life.

Let me tell you a little story. I smoked cigarettes for almost 20 years. I made the usual attempts to quit. I even stopped altogether for a few years (while I had babies..stupid to smoke but not that stupid). I always started up again.

What was I doing wrong? I finally announced to everyone I knew that I was going to quit. I didn’t ask them to call me out, but simply the fact that they knew helped me to stick with it.

This was a long time ago. These days a great way to hold yourself publicly accountable is to start a blog or Instagram account dedicated to achieving your goal, where you can post your successes, vocalize your fears and get feedback from your readers.

If a public blog isn’t your cup of tea, a journal or log is still a great way to track your success and motivate yourself. If you know you have to write it down you’re much less likely to eat that second dessert, skip that workout, or strike that match, even if you are the only one reading.

4. Check In on Your Goals

Whatever your goals, it’s important that you don’t just make them then forget them. Check in with your goals from time to time to make sure you’re still on the path to success. A good plan is to take a quarterly inventory. Are you on track with your goals? Have you fallen behind? What must you do to get back on track?

During your quarterly inventory take stock of where you are with your goals. If you’ve fallen behind this is your chance to get back on track.

5. Remember: S*%t Happens

There are obstacles in our path no matter what we are doing, so you can expect that there will be challenges along the road to your achieving your goals. Realizing this before you start will help you overcome the obstacles. Injury, job changes, divorce, are all things that can throw a wrench in your plans, so prepare ahead of time so they won’t throw you off your stride.

Think about this, write it down so you’ll have it to refer to. How will you make your goal a priority in spite of the challenges?

And remember. If you do miss a workout, give in to the urge for a second dessert, smoke a cigarette, or generally lose track of your goal for a day or even a week or more, it is not over. Don’t give up. Get right back on it, forgive yourself, and move on, keeping both the small goals and your BHAG in mind.

What is your BHAG? The new year is upon us. What is your goal, resolution, or plan for 2023?

I’ll start by sharing mine. While I wouldn’t call it a BHAG, I have signed up for two half marathons (so far) in 2023. Between Covid, plantar fasciitis, and my Mohs surgery I haven’t been running very much. In fact, in 2022 I ran just about half of what I ran the year before. I am healthy now, though and I’m excited to get back to racing.

 

What has been key for you in creating and achieving your goals?

Weekly Linkups

My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!

Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
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Tuesday Topics with Kim and Zenaida
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Fit Five Friday with Darlene, Michelle, Renee, Jenn, and Zenaida
Ultimate Coffee Date with Deborah and Coco