Into Motivation

Perhaps athletes are best noted for setting and achieving personal goals. Any athlete, from football players and hockey team members to golfers and tennis players, will admit that it was their goals that helped them break records, win games and surpass previous performances. At practice, smaller and more manageable steps are outlined to help an athlete strengthen areas of weakness and maintain levels of proficiency. Over time, through diligent commitment and conditioning, a person can accomplish what they set out to do and so much more. Here are some other areas where individuals seek improvement.

Losing weight is one of the most popular personal goals Americans have. It’s a lot easier to put on a few pounds than to lose them, and reaching goals of weight loss or better fitness requires a lot of discipline. The best way to approach weight loss is to start by setting realistic goals — like losing 10% body weight to start. So if an individual weighs 200 pounds, then he or she can start by working to lose 20 pounds. It’s also wise to break down a list of short term goals that will lead to that long term goal of weight loss. Work out 3 days/week, choose a weekly cardio class at the gym, rat more salads, weight train once a week and/or limit desserts to once per week. Many people trying to lose weight also link up with friends who have the same agenda so they can work as support networks for each other.

Another one of the top personal goals is to quit smoking. This is one of the most difficult personal achievement goals to tackle, but it is also important in limiting the risk of cancer, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia

heart disease, bronchitis, aneurysm and other ailments. There are many methods a person may choose, such as drugs like Chantix, nicotine patches, Nicorette chewing gum, hypnosis, quitting cold turkey, calling a hotline and attending group meetings. It’s important to have a strong support network and establish a date when one plans to quit smoking; otherwise the deadline will keep getting pushed back to “after this pack is finished.”

Personal goals can also pertain to a person’s habits, like time management for example. Many people recognize that being perpetually late can cause a lot of hardship and missed opportunities. In some cases, being late causes undue stress and physiological changes, such as heart pains, headaches, weakness and insomnia, to name a few. A person who is late is also more likely to speed while driving, leave multiple projects unfinished and suffer strained relationships with others who don’t appreciate their inability to be punctual. Individuals often set personal goals, like stop wasting time, end procrastination, be a better person, worry less, be more social, be less critical, have better posture and learn how to multitask better. The trick to overcoming personal habits is to create a series of achievable goals and doable steps to create a new persona.

Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed end panic attacks as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medication available at anxietydisordercure.com.