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Goals for go-getters

Set realistic goals to achieve what you are aiming for

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind.

Seneca

In physical fitness, all human achievement is in small steps. The Olympic athlete who runs 100m in less than ten seconds probably started out as a high school athlete aiming to run the distance in less than 11 seconds. And Olympic sprinters go to training each day aiming to shave hundredths of a second from their best time.

Goal-setting is important whether one wants to lose 10 kg or eventually compete in a marathon.

It helps one break up a journey of a thousand miles into a million measurable steps. Breaking up a huge task into small steps also makes one focus on the details involved.

Good goals have certain attributes. Firstly, a good goal is always realistic. Aiming to run a marathon in two years may not sound like a realistic goal at first, but it is one if you manage to break it up into many small achievable steps.

For example, getting a fitness check-up might be the first step, buying shoes the next, and walking 1 km a day the third. Good goals are measurable.

"I will do my best to exercise today" is not a goal. It is a get-out clause in your contract with yourself. "I will exercise for 10 minutes today," is a measurable goal.Goal should be challenging. It is not good to say, "I will workout for ten minutes today" if you can easily do more.

Goals are long term and short term. Keep a diary. Recording failures and successes is a way of learning from mistakes and taking heart from past successes.

Tell your family and friends what you want to achieve, and they will prod you and remind you constantly about your goals. The constant encouragement can get to be a pain in the neck, but it also makes sticking to the job easier.

RAJIV M

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