Have you noticed how pitiful we are anymore at getting around without our phones? Leaving aside just needing it on us at all times, I’m specifically talking about driving and getting places. I shudder at the thought of needing a map and a series of directions to get to a place, but it wasn’t very long ago that you had to.
And even our phones are just really good and fast at planning trips for us, it is still directions, just does all of the leg work for us.
The same has to be true for you and your journey in this fitness thing. Do you know where you are going? Do you have your road map? Do you think you’ll get anywhere if you just drive?
Everyone needs to set goals, we have talked about the “why” of CrossFit or why you are doing what you are doing. Even within that, you have to set goals.
My college golf coach made us write down our goals. And made us read them, on index cards, multiple times per week. There is something spooky about words being written and their existence in the universe (I told you fitness hippie right?). But if you have a sticky note or an index card, I challenge you to try it.
Don’t over think it. But what are your goals? Even if it is to “look good naked” thats cool, but I’d call that an outcome goal. Write that down and read it often but I’d also suggest writing down a few process goals too.
Outcome goals are big picture, long term. For example, I want to play golf until I’m 100. I also want to always be able to say yes to doing anything active from a basketball game to a hike to a crazy WOD.
Process goals are more in the interim, and are stepping stones to your outcome. Think of these as more fluid and super super important. For example: you may have a process goal of going to CrossFit four times a week and going on a jog once a week. Write it down. Even write the days and order down. But here’s the kicker, these goals are to be evaluated regularly. If not weekly then at least monthly. Anything not pushing you towards your outcome needs to be updated. You know, when you make a new turn and the route updates but you are still going to the same place. I had to change some process goals to stick with my outcome goals based on a tweaky knee, and re evaluating what I needed to do to keep my big picture painting the way I wanted.
So, what does your final outcome look like? Think of it as the canvas at the end. Be bold, dream big, and believe in it and think about it regularly. You may update this every six to eight months but probably will not need to.
And how are you going to get there? How often are you going to eat clean per week? How much are you going to sleep? How many people are you going to introduce yourself to at the gym? Question these things regularly and stay on yourself about actively pursuing the process. Know that these pieces can be changed and modified if they aren’t working or they aren’t serving you anymore to get to your end.
If there are specific things to movements and progressions that you want to work on, we would love to help! Just ask us. One of our outcomes is a fit and happy gym. Our process is being there and knowledgable to help out.
You’ll be surprised how far you will get.
