Gooooooaaaalll!!!!!

Goal: Run a Boston Qualifier

• Increase mileage by 10% each week until first day of official training.
• Run faster: Incorporate more speed workouts, about twice a week.
• Stay healthy by eating more vegetables and getting a well-rounded diet with less sweets; drink plenty of water; listen to my body--if something hurts, address it.
• Get rest every night, and give body time to recover after long runs.
• Follow a strict training regimen, only making necessary adjustments.

Goal: Become debt-free

• Stick to a budget.
• Reduce spending to necessities, and limit everything else. (See previous tip on budgeting.)
• Pay off debts one at a time, starting with the smallest. Every extra penny goes to debt.
• Repeat every month until the shackles come off.

Goal:  Learn to play the harmonica

•  Buy a harmonica.
• Either take lessons or self-teach. 
• Practice for x amount of time each day. 

These are just a few of my long-term goals accompanied by short-term goals that will lead to success, hopefully.

There's a power in writing goals. Sure, we can dream all day, but until we write them down (or type), that's all they are--dreams. Writing them down gives us something tangible to hang onto and serves as motivation. Not only am I reading a book that encourages this, but I've been preaching this to my students for the past year, while not taking my own advice--until now.

Think about the goals you set as a kid. Even as an adult, how does it feel when you achieve something that took time, effort, and discipline? This is why we incorporate goal-setting into our self-esteem lessons. Even during your darkest of days, seeing that you've taken steps toward success is a deposit into that bucket we talked about.

What if you fail? That sucks. But if that happens, you may need to simply re-evaluate your goals. Are they Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely? If you answered "no" to any of these, it's time to think SMART. Think about what got in the way last time, and try to figure out how to avoid that road block the next time. You may even have to change your goal altogether. Win some and lose some; accept reality and do what you can to make it better. CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS from negative to positive. You failed? Not yet, you didn't, 'cause you haven't given up yet.

Long-term goals can be over-whelming, and sometimes it's too easy to lose momentum when you're not seeing the results you expected. That's why it's also important to set those short-term goals, every week if need be.

I encourage you to write down your goals and to follow the SMART rules. Anyone can benefit from this, in   your personal life, work life, relationships, etc.

I'm keeping it pretty short this time; I realized the past few were pretty long. Thanks for reading, and please comment when you get the chance. I love writing, but I love reading too.